Issued at 12:56 PM CDT, Thursday, July 19th, 2012
-The latest long term Palmer Drought Severity Index for the period ending on July 14, 2012 continues to show that Northwest and parts of Northern Minnesota need an additional 9-12″ of precipitation to get back to average. Northwest Wisconsin needs anywhere from a trace-3″. Northeast Minnesota is doing better in the long term.
*Latest Drought Update as of July 17th, 2012*
-63.5% of the U.S. is in drought this week which beats the previous record of 54.8% in 2003. Twitter, @TriStatesWx @Accu_Jesse
-38% of the Nation’s corn crop is in poor or very poor condition which is up from 30% one week ago. (USDA)
-Washington state, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are the only states in the U.S. that are not in moderate drought or worse.
-Forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center indicate that there’s a 65% chance for El Nino conditions by the end of 2012.
-Short Term drought conditions as of July 14, 2012
For Minnesota:
Abnormally Dry: 37.60% which is a decrease from 51.26% last week.
Moderate Drought: 62.40% which is up from 48.74% last week.
Severe Drought: 7.32% which is up from 0% last week.
Western areas of Minnesota as well as Southwest and far Southern Minnesota continue to be impacted the most by drought conditions.
For Wisconsin:
40% of the Badger state is in moderate drought or worse, and 18.68% of Wisconsin is now in Extreme Drought.
For the Midwest:
72.70% is in moderate drought or worse.
Extreme drought: 11.89% which is up from 6.05% one week ago.
-U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook valid through October 31st, 2012. The latest forecast doesn’t look too promising for Western and Southern Minnesota, as well as the Southern 1/2 of Wisconsin where drought is expected to persist or intensify!
Climate Outlook for August 2012
Source: Climate Prediction Center
For Duluth, Minnesota: 50% chance of above normal temperatures, and equal chances for above, below, or normal precipitation.
30 day precipitation outlook for August 2012
-30 day temperature outlook for August 2012
Climate Outlook for August-October 2012
Source: Climate Prediction Center
For Duluth, Minnesota: 33-40% chance of above normal temperatures, and equal chances for above, below, or normal precipitation.
Source: Climate Prediction Center
For Duluth, Minnesota: 40% chance of above normal temperatures, and equal chances for above, below, or normal precipitation.
-Seasonal temperature outlook for Winter 2012-2013, December-February.
-Seasonal precipitation outlook for Winter 2012-2013, December-February.
Tim