Selective Rainfall Improves Drought Conditions
Latest Drought Monitor shows 17% of U.S. still in extreme or exceptional drought
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 20, 2012
Thursday's drought monitor reported minor changes in drought conditions, with some areas seeing beneficial rainfall and others continuing in dry patterns.
In the Four Corners region, the Southeast and southern tip of the Corn Belt, rains provided minor improvements to drought conditions. Areas of Texas and Oklahoma also saw rain, bumping those areas down from D3 to D2.
Clear weather has benefited the Midwestern harvest this week. Though moderate and abnormally dry conditions expanded in some parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, central and southern Illinois is still feeling beneficial effects of rainfall from the past month.
In the Southern Plains, dry conditions have continued in the Texas panhandle. Farther west, much of the region is still experiencing dry conditions as well, with the exception of areas of Nevada and Arizona, which are experiencing monsoon season.
Rains have eased drought conditions in some areas of the U.S. this week. The Central plains, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions remained largely unchanged from last week.
Overall, D4 drought hasn't shown significant easing, but is down from 5.2% last week to 4.98% this week.
Looking ahead, David Simeral of the Western Regional Climate Center reports that the U.S. will be mostly dry with the exception of some disturbances for the Midwest and some of the Northeast. The eastern U.S. will be cooler, while the western half will experience above normal temperatures.
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Tagged: Drought, Corn Belt
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