Drought Monitor
Rain gives “a foothold for drought recovery” in California
Two weeks of rainy and snowy weather "has provided California a foothold for drought recovery but three straight winters of subnormal precipitation will take time, possibly several consecutive wet winters to recharge the reservoir levels and...
It’s so dry out West it can be measured by GPS
Researchers say the Global Positioning System, which helps drivers navigate the roads and which monitors tiny movements of the earth's surface as a possible indicator of developing earthquakes, has measured the huge loss of water due to severe drought in the West, says National Geographic.
Boom time for drilling wells in drought-dried California
Farmers and landowners in California are spending millions of dollars to drill increasingly deeper wells in California, says National Geographic.
High corn and soy ratings despite dry July
The U.S. corn and soybean crops are in phenomenally good shape for the first week of August, said the weekly Crop Progress report, despite dry July weather in the western Corn Belt.
Rains cap a month of easing of drought’s reach
Widespread and locally heavy rain storms in the central Plains and Midwest capped four weeks of an easing in the extent and severity of drought across the nation, said the Drought Monitor.
Best condition in years for US corn crop
Despite a late, wet and chilly planting season, the U.S. corn crop is in prime condition. "U.S. crop conditions in the most recent Crop Progress report are the best in four years for the aggregated 18 reported states...
Drought expands to cover all of California
"California's worsening drought reached a new, ominous milestone this week just as the typical dry season begins for much of the state," says The Weather Channel.
Wetter than normal outlook for Farm Belt, Northwest
The National Weather Service forecasts more precipitation than usual in the Midwest, the Plains and the Pacific Northwest for late April, which could delay spring planting but relieve dry conditions in the western Corn Belt and the central and southern Plains.
El Nino likely by summer or fall, could aid dry crop areas
The National Weather Service sees an increased likelihood of an El Nino weather pattern developing by this summer and through the rest of the year.
August takes the sheen off of U.S. corn and soybean crops
The USDA assessment of the condition of the corn and soybean crops nationwide took a beating from derecho damage in Iowa and droughty weather in the Midwest during August, said the USDA on Monday. The Crop Progress report listed 62 percent of corn and 66 percent of soybeans in good or excellent condition, compared to 72 percent of corn and 73 percent of soybeans in those categories at the start of month.