Dry weather can come as a blessing, but you can have too much of a good thing. Drought is causing increasing concern in more than one part of the globe.

In the United States Rockies, there is high risk of wildfire this summer. Due to long-term drought the entire Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming is potentially at risk from a particularly bad fire season.

So what is the culprit for the dry conditions? Below-average winter snowfall and a rapid melt-off. As of Friday Colorado's snowpack was only 17% of the 30-year average and 61% of last year.

Adding to the problem is the spread of insects and disease. Ips beetle, Spruce beetle, Douglas fir beetle and Mountain Pine beetle infestations are spreading in Colorado. The beetles kill trees, whose needles then fall off, thus becoming a fuel hazard.

Durango airport has not received any measurable precipitation since April 29th
The outlook is grim and not only includes the most densely populated areas, it also covers the most popular tourist regions. Extended weather forecasts do not hold out much hope for the level of rain that would be needed to ease drought conditions.

Meanwhile down in parts of Australia, farmers have been enduring their worst drought in a century. 80% of New South Wales is now affected. Although rains in late-May and early-June have given many farmers some welcome relief, many farmers are now staring down the barrel of a third winter in drought unless a miracle happens in the next couple of months.

The problem is long-term. Indeed the southeastern part of Australia has received below-normal rainfall for about eight years.

The implications extend beyond the shores of the Antipodes. Australia is the second largest wheat and canola exporter in the world, and is the world's largest barley exporter, excluding the EU.

Weather News from the last five days:
06/06/2004
05/06/2004
04/06/2004
03/06/2004
02/06/2004

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