Rain Brings Relief, but Dry Pockets Remain Across U.S.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows drought levels following last week’s widespread precipitation.

Moderate to heavy precipitation — ranging from 1–3 inches, with isolated higher totals — fell across much of the Pacific Northwest, northern Intermountain West, and northern Great Plains, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). Notable rainfall totals were also reported in parts of Michigan, New England, the Carolinas, central Great Plains, northern and central Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and sections of Florida.

More than 3 inches of rain was recorded in the higher elevations and coastal areas from northern California to the Canadian border. Similar totals were seen from Oklahoma southward into central Texas, along parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, southern Appalachians, central Gulf Coast, east-central Florida Peninsula, and areas near Lake Erie.

Rainfall totals reached 5–10 inches across portions of coastal and higher-elevation Washington and Oregon, north-central through east-central Oklahoma, northeastern Texas, south-central Mississippi, and east-central Florida.

Widespread improvement was noted across the Pacific Northwest, northern Intermountain West, and the Great Plains from eastern Kansas through central Texas, as well as in the interior Deep South, Ohio Valley, eastern Great Lakes, Carolinas, southern Appalachians, and parts of New England.

However, dryness and drought conditions worsened in portions of the central and northern High Plains, Texas Panhandle, Deep South and coastal Texas, southern Alabama and Georgia, and pockets of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast from New York to coastal Maine, according to the USDM.

The map shows the share of the Lower 48 states classified as abnormally dry or worse declined slightly from 72% to 69%, still above the long-term average of 49.2% since 2000. Drought extent also eased modestly, dropping from 46.1% to 43.6%, yet remaining above the 31.1% average since 2000.

Boots on the Ground Perspective

Phil Krieg, Illinois agronomy service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection, said stands of planted wheat should be in good condition following the recent rainfall.

“The biggest rain in 90 days came last weekend on Saturday, October 18 with everyone getting a good soaking rain that ranged from 1.5–5 inches,” said Krieg. “The soil soaked it up very well and there was very little run off. Very strong winds from Sunday through Wednesday helped get growers back into the fields on Monday and harvest progress continued.”

Illinois Wyffels agronomy manager Ryan Gentle shared farmers are concerned about anhydrous sealing with the current dry conditions.

“Some areas received anywhere from zero to one inch – heavier totals to the south,” said Gentle. “It is very dry, and creeks and ponds are drying up in the area.”

Tim Dahl, agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection in southern Minnesota, said weather last week was typical for this time of year.

Dahl experienced, “Lows down in the 30s with daytime temps in the 50s, with a few light showers popping up.”

In Wisconsin, conditions turned cooler, according to Nick Groth, agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection.

“If areas were able to escape earlier frosts, most of them got their first frost last week,” said Groth. “There was some wet weather as well, but not heavy rainfall events. The weather wasn’t great for harvest, but there were a few days where guys could get some work done, especially by the end of the week.”