SEVERE TO MODERATE DROUGHT OVER HALF OF IOWA..
While widely scattered storms produced some narrow bands of beneficial rains Thursday, most of what fell was outside the drought stricken regions that needed it most. In fact, moderate to severe drought conditions expanded across parts of my area and the central Midwest. Here's the latest drought index.
It's obvious to see that Iowa is currently impacted the most with nearly 2/3rds of the state in abnormally dry to severe drought conditions. As of Thursday 1.1 million Iowan's we're located within drought areas. 71% of Iowa is considered to be abnormally dry with more than 50% of the state in moderate to severe drought.
Here's the latest soil moisture anomaly.
And here's the anomaly change since July 31st.
The NWS in the Quad Cities put this statement out Thursday regarding the expansion of the drought in southeast Iowa....
Drought Information Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 1147 AM CDT Thu Aug 10 2017
MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHEAST IOWA...
SYNOPSIS... A multi-month period of drier than normal weather has evolved into moderate to severe drought across parts of Iowa, generally along a line stretching from northwest Iowa into south central and southeast Iowa.
LOCAL AREA AFFECTED... Within our service area, severe drought exists in parts of Jefferson and Van Buren counties. Moderate drought extends from southern Benton county south and southeastward into Lee and Henry counties.
SUMMARY OF IMPACTS... STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Service is conducting meetings for farmers impacted by drought.
SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS. USDA reports for southeast Iowa indicate topsoil moisture is 89% short or very short and subsoil moisture is 78% short or very short.
AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS. Roughly one-third of the corn and soybean crop statewide is rated fair to very poor, most of the acreage likely in the drought areas.
RIVER AND STREAM FLOW CONDITIONS. Streamflows in southeast Iowa are running below to much below normal.
GROUND WATER IMPACTS. Shallow groundwater in southeast Iowa is reported below normal according to the Iowa DNR.
FIRE DANGER IMPACTS. Vegetative greenness is below normal suggesting plants are at an advanced stage of curing compared to most summers. Burn bans are not currently in effect in southeast Iowa, but they are in effect for Mahaska and Wapello counties.
CLIMATE SUMMARY... Fairfield Iowa (representative of the drought area) Since Jan 1 - actual precipitation is 14.88, normal is 24.20 Only 2.31 inches has fallen during the summer (June-July-August)
PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK... Generally dry weather with near normal temperatures are forecast through the next week. Odds favor near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for week 2 (August 17-23) The outlook for August-September-October favors near to above normal temperatures, with no indication either way of drier or wetter than normal conditions.
HYDROLOGICAL OUTLOOK... A lack of rain will keep rivers at low levels in the drought areas. NEXT ISSUANCE DATE... Thursday August 17 2017
Prospects for rain the next week do not look good in the driest regions. The 5 day rain forecast from the Weather Prediction Center looks like this.
Now the WPC 7 day forecast.
Longer range the 8-14 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center looks a bit better with at least normal rainfall indicated.
Temperatures are also expected to turn warmer during that period.
That's all for now. Here's hoping the rains come if you're one of those in need. Roll weather...TS
