ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER
Written By: Scott Hetsko
After a top 5 wet Spring, we are on our way to one of the driest June and July combos on record. Combined, our June-July total is 1.5" of rain. The next driest is 2.07" in 1955. Today is July 11th, we still have three weeks of July left but I don't see any steady rain in the forecast for at least the next 7-10 days. I wouldn't be shocked if we do end up with the driest June and July on record!
It is an amazing turn of events. I was cutting my grass at least 2 times a week in the spring. Now, I have not cut my grass in over 2 weeks. My neighborhood looks like the desert. It is a sea of brown. We need a soaking rain which is very rare during the summer months. We have had much less thean the airport. In June I recorded only.50 inches and nothing in July so far. Scott, when do they start calling this a drought? I know for the year we are still about 2 inches above normal, but what about a short term drought or do they only look at the long term drought. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteI live in Gananda
ReplyDeleteweather dan, I am wondering the same thing.........when do we call this a drought? I kind of like not having to mow the lawn but this is getting ridiculous!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/new.html
ReplyDeletehttp://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_northeast.htm
Here's a link that lends some insight as to how a drought is defined. It depends on the area although I would define us as "abnormally dry" and the Northeast Drought Monitor has not done that as of July 5th. I'm sure that will change this week or next.
Scott
Also with another 1-2 week dry spell coming, I'd would begin calling this a modest drought at that point.
ReplyDeleteScott
As unpleasant as all that rain was during the spring, that is the very reason that we haven't plunged into a drought. While the top soil is desert dry, the deep ground water table is still okay from the spring rains....and that is the important difference. If we had had a dry winter and spring too, you'd be hearing about water restrictions and peoples wells drying up. That's not the case yet because of the excessive rain in April and May. But, a few more weeks of this, and we may be looking at true drought conditions by August.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone, Scott. I am getting concerned I will lose some of my lawn. I know it goes dorment, but if it does not receive water some will die. I cannot afford the large water bills to water it.
ReplyDeleteThe last posting was me, Weatherdan
ReplyDelete