Some Drought Improvement This Week, But Drought Persists

In the Midwest, a strong front moved through early this week, producing widespread moderate to heavy rain across the south. Isolated showers have filled in at times the rest of the week. Periods of isolated showers will continue through the weekend and a little system will move through on Tuesday and Wednesday with a more concentrated area of showers. Drought remains very limited, but is mostly non-existent in the region. There are some patchy drier areas, but most of the region is in good shape with its soil moisture.

In the Northern Plains, isolated showers have been passing through most of the week, but most areas have stayed dry. Pockets and streaks of isolated showers will continue through early next week, with limited impact. Drought areas in the south and west continue, and some drier areas are popping up in North Dakota as well.  

In the Central and Southern Plains, a front moved through this week, producing scattered showers and thunderstorms. Behind the front, showers continued across the west, but came in the form of snow. However, some very dry areas of the region saw upward of an inch of precipitation, which will help to ease the ongoing drought. However, for much of the region, drought continues to be a major concern. Isolated showers will pass through going into early next week, but coverage and amounts look awfully low.

In the Delta, heavy rainfall last week and this week has reduced drought, but the entire region is still in some category of drought. Additional showers and thunderstorms will continue across the region through the weekend, with some of those being heavy. Chances for precipitation next week will be more limited.

In the Southeast U.S., a front moved through the region this week, bringing some areas of heavy rain. Though this adds to the good rainfall from last week, the drought monitor barely budged this week, indicative of how deep the deficits are in the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue in the region through Sunday or Monday, which will help to continue a path toward drought reduction, but drier conditions next week won’t help.

In the Western U.S., some significant precipitation fell from northern California to Colorado this week, including some heavy snow in the central Rockies. Another push of showers came across Arizona and New Mexico as well. Despite that, drought has stayed steady in the region and grew a little this week in Arizona. Warm and dry conditions through most of next week should continue the path toward soil moisture reduction and drought increases.

John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com