Brad Rippey

Dozens of wildfires continue to burn across the western U.S. which has led to a lot of smoke and air quality issues, especially across Idaho, Montana and other states in the northern Rockies.  And while conditions remain ripe for fires to start and spread, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said the wildfire picture has improved here in the west, when compared to last week.   “...

The hot, dry weather we’ve seen across much of the western United States has been “ideal” for spring wheat harvest, that according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  Harvest numbers, he noted, made a big jump this week, increasing 21% to 71% of the overall crop being cut to this point.   “Even with th...

September appears to have picked up right where August left off, with many regions across the Pacific Northwest reporting record or near record heat to start the month.   “We kicked off September on the 1st with a September record tying high of 112 degrees in Lancaster, CA," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "That wa...

When it comes to the latest U.S. Pastures and Rangeland Conditions, modest improvements were reported nationwide.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said the final ratings of August show 46% of pastures across the country are very poor to poor, which is about a 3% drop from the week earlier.   “...

As combines roll across the Pacific Northwest, and the nation, some wheat growers are trying to play a little catch up.  Brad Rippey, meteorologist with the USDA said when it comes to the final look at the winter wheat crop, 95% has been harvested as of Sunday.  Rippey ...

It should come as no surprise that late summer features some of the lowest national pasture and rangeland conditions on an annual basis.  However, USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey pointed out things are a little worse this year compared to a "normal year'.  When it...

When we look back on July 2022, one word will come to mind, at least here in the Pacific Northwest.  Hot.  And it wasn't just our neck of the woods that saw extreme heat, but hot conditions were reported up and down the west coast, as well as across the southern Plains.  And Bra...

"Unfortunately not unexpected, but if you look at the map of wildfires current in the Northwest, extending from northern California through Oregon, Washington and then eastward through Idaho into western Montana, there are a number of large wildfires on the map...

There was only a slight improvement in the poor to very poor ratings of pasture and rangeland conditions nationwide in the most recent USDA numbers. "49% very poor to poor, that is down a point from the previous week and there is no change in rangeland and pastures rated good to excellent," said USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "S...

It may have taken a little while to get here, but wildfire season has descended upon the Pacific Northwest.  A hand full of fires are burning across the region, with the largest taking place in the mountains of central Idaho.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said thanks to several dry years, the next two months could be very active. "It is a b...