U.S. in Worst Drought in Sixty Years -Now Slowly Fading

[Frodo]

Worst drought since 1950s in continental U.S.

By Jason Samenow
Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 07/16/2012



It’s been more than 50 years since a drought this extensive has afflicted the Lower 48 states. That’s the conclusion of NOAA’s latest report on drought, released today.

Through the end of June, some 56 percent of the continental U.S. was designated in some form of drought, the largest percentage since December, 1956.

“... indicators suggest that the 2012 drought is similar to the 1950s drought in extent, pattern, and intensity, although not in duration,” the report said.



The current drought also does not yet compare with the Dust Bowl droughts of the 1930s in terms of duration, or intensity.

Still, severe-to-extreme drought grew 10 percent from late May to late June, reaching 33 percent of the Lower 48, thanks to the third driest June on record.

In historical context, the Weather Channel writes this is the 10th-largest severe drought since 1895, “but the more severe drought categories don’t cover quite as much land now as did the droughts of 1988 and the early 2000s,” it said.

Exceptionally dry conditions in the cornbelt and soybean belts over the last three months have taken their toll.

[realisticidealist]

That's why I'm never leaving the Northwest.

[greenforest32]

That's why I'm never leaving the Northwest.

We had a pretty big wildfire start in SE Oregon last week: http://www.ktvz.com/news/SE-Oregon-wildfire-Oregon-s-largest-in-century/-/413192/15509842/-/aahw6o/-/index.html

It looks like it's contained now though.

[Tender Branson]

Sure Obama is to blame for it, right ?

[Jayhawker]

I left Indiana May 30th. Since then, it hasn't even rained a quarter of an inch...total.

[Hatman]

I see the elephant in the room has not been mentioned yet.

[Keystone Phil]

Sure Obama is to blame for it, right ?

No, Bush was in office from 2001-2009.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

Sure Obama is to blame for it, right ?

No, it's Bush's. He got so mad that the black guy won that he made Jeebus turn off the wet.

[Big DaddyTX]

I see that some areas are extremely moist. Mmmmm yeah.

[Vosem]

I live in Cleveland, I'm not used to this s**t. I want snow, but if I can't have snow in July, then at least some rain.

I see the elephant in the room has not been mentioned yet.

This is Forum Community Off-Topic, not General Discussion.

EDIT: Whoops.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

I see that some areas are extremely moist. Mmmmm yeah.

[A-Bob]

It sucks here right now, I'm glad we aren't at Dust Bowl levels.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

I live in Cleveland, I'm not used to this s**t. I want snow, but if I can't have snow in July, then at least some rain.

Why would you have rain in July? That would be awful!

[Vosem]

I live in Cleveland, I'm not used to this s**t. I want snow, but if I can't have snow in July, then at least some rain.

Why would you have rain in July? That would be awful!

Dafuq?

[Nhoj]

Seems I am in a area of the state which isn't in drought, which is made pretty evident by the ten foot tall corn. However its starting to dry out : as its been hot and not rained much in the last couple weeks.

[True Federalist]

If this goes on, this is going to be a major drag on the economy, tho its effects won't be largely felt outside the cornbelt until after the election.  It could well be we're looking at another dip in 2013 no matter who wins.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I see that some areas are extremely moist. Mmmmm yeah.

Like the phallic Florida.

[Speaker Dereich]

I see that some areas are extremely moist. Mmmmm yeah.

Like the phallic Florida.

Ignoring the moist joke, we're only out of it because we took on Beryl/Debbie.

[dead0man]

Seems I am in a area of the state which isn't in drought, which is made pretty evident by the ten foot tall corn. However its starting to dry out : as its been hot and not rained much in the last couple weeks.

Same here, really tall corn for this time of year in eastern Nebraska and southern Iowa....but starting to dry out a bit.

[Hatman]

I live in Cleveland, I'm not used to this s**t. I want snow, but if I can't have snow in July, then at least some rain.

I see the elephant in the room has not been mentioned yet.

This is Forum Community Off-Topic, not General Discussion.

EDIT: Whoops.

It's why I didn't mention it by name.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

It doesn't rain in July in California at all? Seriously?

We don't have a drought problem now with the thunderstorm we just got, with more rain on the way, but I like the rain in the summer, it cools things down and is much better when it's done, I'd rather have 75F with puddles than well into the 90s without them. The freak storms we get often get pretty severe (even hail), but I only hate the rain in the winter or early spring when it's really cold and the rain just makes it worse (especially when it drops below freezing later and all the rain puddles turn to ice.) Of course it can result in some bad flooding too, like North Dakota often gets, but we're more prepared for that.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

It doesn't rain in July in California at all? Seriously?

The precipitation chart is in the middle. It doesn't rain when it's warm.

[5280/East California]

We could use that rain from the pacific northwest at the moment.

[BaldEagle1991]

Look out for higher prices on almost everything at the supermarket.

[Jayhawker]

My county is one of the couple that is in a "drought disaster". I think that's what it is called anyways.

It's terrible - our yard is completely destroyed, our "pond" is down 2 feet. The crops are completely ruined.