Agricultural News
Soil Moisture Situation Becoming Critical as Latest Drought Monitor Map Shows Drought Expanding in Many Areas of the Southern Plains
Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:55:39 CDT
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows almost 67 percent of the country is struggling with abnormally dry or worse conditions going into late fall and early winter.
There was some relief in recent days as snow and rain fell across the northern sections of the country. However, many areas didn't receive any precipitation, and combined with high evaporative rates over the High Plains and much of the
West, widespread worsening of the drought conditions occurred.
Drought expanded in northwest Arkansas, Oklahoma, central and western Texas.
Much of the central and southern Plains region has experienced high winds leading to high evaporation rates sucking moisture out of the soil. This has created a dismal situation for winter wheat farmers as early planted wheat is dying and
prospects for the remaining fields are growing dimmer every day.
To view the latest U.S. drought map, click here.
The winter wheat pasture situation is especially critical in Oklahoma where cattle producers from around the country typically send their cattle this time of year for winter grazing.
Currently, 63 percent of Oklahoma is covered in various shades of drought with severe and extreme drought expanding in southwest and the Panhandle areas.
This is a pattern extending to early spring or longer for the Panhandle.
It could be worse. At this time in in 2011 and 2012, 100 percent of the state was covered in drought.
To view the Oklahoma drought map, click here.
Looking ahead, there is some short-term relief showing up on the forecast maps.
To view the 6-10-day temperature outlook, click here.
To view the 6-10-day precipitation outlook, click here.
However, La Nina has arrived and that does not bode well for much long-term relief.
To view the drought outlook map for October 15 to January 31, click here.
Looking farther down the road towards the end of the year into 2021, click here for the Dec. -Jan. 2021 precipitation outlook.
The U.S. Drought Monitor Map is developed through a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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