CAN YOU DIG IT?  With snow covering the southern half of the state, we’re digging out into a new month as the calendar turns to December.  We’ve got more on storm totals and what’s to come for the winter in today’s Outdoors Roundup.

Featured Photo:  Snow fills a set of pine tree rows. Simonson Photo.

 

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today:  Sun 12/1 – Dig Out Day – Hi 25, Lo 19, Wind NW@11
Tomorrow:  Mon 12/2 – Maybe Melt? – Hi 35, Lo 14, Wind StoW@8

 

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

Sunrise        Sunset
8:07AM        4:56PM

Moonrise      Moonset    Overhead       Underfoot
12:33PM      9:52PM        5:10PM           4:45AM

 

Moon Phase:  Waxing Crescent (24% Full)

 

EDGE HOUR:   4:20-5:30PM.  Moon overhead, sunset and lessening winds will help with the bite and animal movement in today’s Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

 

OUTDOORS ROUNDUP:

HEY OH.  Snow totals of eight to 12 inches fell on much of the southern half of ND, blown around by strong winds yesterday, starting our meteorological winter (and Winter Severity Index) off on the harsher foot.  Check out the totals from weather.gov and follow the snow cover map at NOAA as things update.

 

WSI.  Well, our Winter Severity Index season at DEO kicks off today and we’ve already got 10 inches of ground cover (adding one point for every day).  We’ll have updates every two weeks to see how this season (Dec. 1 – Feb. 28) is treating area wildlife and what their survival prospects will be headed into spring based on conditions.  Each day gets a point any time the temperature hits zero or lower and any time there is more than 10 inches of snow on the ground.

 

ICE UP.  The NDG&F has part one of its Ice Fishing Preview with fisheries district biologists talking about what’s to come this winter as part of its Outdoors Online video series and where populations are at going into the season. Good numbers of walleyes and pike are forecasted, while perch may struggle some.