Weather conditions across the United States continue to show a sharp contrast between wet and dry regions, and USDA Chief Meteorologist Brad Rippey says Iowa is sitting near the center of that dividing line.
Speaking during a discussion in Washington, D.C., Rippey said drought conditions still dominate much of the country, even as parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes region have dealt with flooding and severe storms.
Rippey, who authors the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor and contributes weather analysis to USDA’s monthly WASDE report, said drought coverage across the lower 48 states is approaching levels seen during the historic 2012 drought.
Drought continues to dominate the landscape across the lower 48, despite recent storminess…
While drought remains widespread across much of the western United States, Rippey said recent severe weather patterns have helped define a very sharp transition zone stretching from Texas into the Upper Midwest.
He said areas east of that line have generally received more rainfall and storm activity, while areas to the west continue struggling with dry conditions and limited thunderstorm development.
And the thing that really strikes me on this, there has been a lot of severe weather…
Rippey said that the pattern has created dramatically different growing conditions depending on location. Parts of the Great Lakes region have dealt with flooding and delayed fieldwork, while western sections of the Plains continue battling drought concerns and wildfire risk. He added that the evolving weather pattern will continue influencing planting progress and crop development as the growing season moves forward.
