Hit or Miss Showers Offer Some Relief
Drought monitor reveals beneficial showers and lower temperatures have provided drought relief for some areas of the country, while others slip deeper into hot, dry conditions.
Compiled by staff
Published: Aug 23, 2012
The latest drought monitor update shows continued degradation in Southwestern states, whereas some of the hardest-hit crop growing states such as Indiana and Illinois improved due to widespread showers and significant rainfall.
Though rains have not completely quenched parched farmland in Illinois and Indiana, any help is welcome. Drought in parts of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska continued to expand this week as exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought conditions continue to plague the area.
D4 conditions have also expanded in Oklahoma while parts of Eastern Texas enjoyed some rainfall. North Louisiana and central Texas experienced expanded severe (D2) and extreme drought.
Damaged corn shows stress of high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Early harvest has begun in parts of the Corn Belt. In the west, drought improved in response to monsoon rains. Unaffected areas such as Idaho and some parts of Colorado continue in drought conditions.
In the East and Southeast, drought still has a hold on Georgia while improvements appeared in many of the surrounding states. The Northeast remains in abnormally dry conditions.
Agriculture continues to suffer as the drought monitor reports that 49% and 46% of the corn and soybean producing areas, respectively, are suffering from extreme or exceptional drought.
In the coming week, many areas are expecting rain showers, except for the Northwest and into the Ohio Valley. Hotter temperatures will visit the Northern U.S.
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Tagged: Drought
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