STATUS SATURDAY.  We’ll make it into the mid sixties with light east winds for your outdoor adventures today.  While you enjoy that, we check out where we sit in terms of ground moisture, our forested areas and what’s in store on the long-range climate predictor in today’s Outdoors Roundup.

Featured Photo:  Jacked Up.  A pair of spring jackrabbits forage in the early morning light. Simonson Photo

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Sat 5/16 – Temperate – Hi 62, Lo 40, Wind E@9
Tomorrow: Sun 5/17 – Warming – Hi 70, Lo 40, Wind SE@15, G20

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

Sunrise        Sunset
6:06AM        9:13PM

Moonrise         Moonset        Overhead      Underfoot
4:06AM           3:03PM           9:30AM            9:51PM
Moon Phase:  Waning Crescent (32% Full)

EDGE HOUR: 2:30-3:30PM.  Moonset and the warmest temps of the day will power your fishing this afternoon in our Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

OUTDOORS ROUNDUP:

HALF & HALF.  Following last year’s late rainfall, the western half of North Dakota finds itself in the “Abnormally Dry” category to start off spring on the drought monitor.  The east remains normal and certainly still saturated to begin the pheasant and waterfowl nesting season.

GOOD WOOD.  While known mostly for its open prairie and rolling hills, North Dakota sports a handful of state forests and for a time had a national forest declared by Teddy Roosevelt.  Normally tied to those northern reaches and twisting river valleys, these tree-filled areas are bastions for wildlife and provided construction materials for settlers.

GOLDILOCKS.  For what it’s worth (usually just for fun) NOAA’s long-range forecast for the next month shows ND smack in the middle of the regional extremes, not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry.