A creek in the Crex Meadows State Wildlife area on February 21, 2023. Several inches of snow had just fallen. The high temperature was 12° F.

The same creek a year later, February 21, 2024. No snow. The high temperature was 45° F. Over the summer, the ponds and creeks in the area had almost dried up. We will likely see high temperatures nearing 60° in the next few days. It’s been an unusual winter.