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Despite Rain, Drought Concerns Remain

06/12/2012

Some parts of Missouri received between one and two inches of rain from storms that swept across the state Sunday night and Monday morning. While the rain is welcome, Missouri State Climatologist Pat Guinan (guh-NAAN) says it’s not enough to call an end to a weeks-old drought. (play audio :24    “need more.”)
Guinan says some parts of the state are more than five inches below the average rainfall total since the beginning of last month. May is supposed to be Missouri’s rainiest month of the year, but that was not the case this year. Guinan says that’s generally a bad sign for the rest of the year. (play audio :20   “dry May.”)
When it comes to dry Mays on record, Guinan says this year ranks right up there. (play audio :09   “as a whole.”)
Meanwhile, concern is also growing about worsening drought conditions in Nebraska, following one of the warmest springs on record. State Climatologist Al Dutcher says drought in Kansas has moved into southwest, south central and southeast Nebraska. If moisture doesn’t develop from a cool front this week, corn crops could be stressed even further. (play audio :23    “exaggerate stress.”)
Dutcher says he’s watching to see where the drought may move next. (play audio   :21    “western Dakotas.”)
Dutcher says what could keep the drought from popping up in western South Dakota is if some thunderstorms push across the plains, but with lack of snow pack in the central Rockies, he says the chances for that aren’t very good.

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