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Table 1. Ten driest <strong>an</strong>d wettest summers (me<strong>an</strong> Z-index) between 1929 <strong>an</strong>d 1999 (r<strong>an</strong>ked by severity).<br />

Driest Years Wettest Years<br />

Year Z-Index Year Z-Index<br />

1961 –2.52 1993 4.00<br />

1936 –2.51 1944 1.95<br />

1988 –2.48 1951 1.63<br />

1934 –2.13 1965 1.62<br />

1931 –1.73 1995 1.54<br />

1933 –1.40 1947 1.52<br />

1929 –1.24 1999 1.36<br />

1940 –1.23 1942 1.33<br />

1959 –1.09 1975 1.30<br />

1937 –0.99 1968 1.28<br />

Figure 4. Composite snowfall <strong>an</strong>omalies (mm) in winter, <strong>an</strong>d spring <strong>as</strong>sociated with <strong>the</strong> five wettest summers<br />

(1993, 1944, 1951, 1965, 1995) <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong> five driest summers (1961, 1936, 1988, 1934, 1931).<br />

DISCUSSION<br />

The observational data demonstrate that below (above) normal snowfall in winter/spring is<br />

generally <strong>as</strong>sociated with <strong>an</strong>omalously dry (wet) summers in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Great Plains. It is<br />

hypo<strong>the</strong>sized that below normal snowfall is linked to summer drought via negative soil moisture<br />

<strong>an</strong>omalies in spring <strong>an</strong>d early summer that reduce local moisture recycling. Our findings appear to<br />

support those of Nami<strong>as</strong> (1991), who suggested that reduced soil moisture during <strong>the</strong> late<br />

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