Issued at 2:30 PM CDT, Thursday, August 9th, 2012
*Latest Drought Monitor as of Tuesday, August 7th, 2012*
Source: Climate Prediction Center. The Weather Channel. NCDC
-7 day rainfall map from The Weather Channel, ending on August 9, 2012. Some badly needed rains during the past few days, but obviously a lot more is needed.
For the Midwest:
69% of the Midwest is in drought which is down slightly from last week (71%)
55% of the Midwest is in severe drought, and 38% is in extreme drought which is up from 31% last week.
5% of the Midwest is in exceptional drought which is up from 4% one week ago.
For Minnesota:
35% of Minnesota is in drought.
16% of Minnesota is in severe drought.
0.26% of Minnesota is in extreme drought.
Far Southwest Minnesota is now in the extreme drought category with Northwest, Southern, and far Southeastern Minnesota under moderate to severe drought. In the Duluth area, Western Koochiching county is in Moderate drought this week.
-63% of the U.S. is in some sort of drought this week.
-The states of Washington, Florida, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire are drought free this week.
-Extreme and exceptional drought has increased in the U.S. to 24% this week, up from 22% last week.
*Exceptional drought covers 53% of Arkansas this week (Over half the state)
*Exceptional drought covers 39% of Kansas this week which is up from 17% last week.
*Exceptional drought covers 25% of Indiana this week.
*Exceptional drought covers 24% of Georgia this week.
Iowa:
Extreme drought covers 69% of the state which is up from 31% one week ago.
Oklahoma:
Extreme drought covers 97% of the Sooner state which is up from 72% last week.
-Long term palmer drought severity index ending on August 4th, 2012. An additional 6-9″ of precipitation is needed to get back to average in the NW half of Minnesota.
Tim
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