Agricultural News
Drought Conditions Hold Steady as Winter Storm Blankets Most of Oklahoma in Snow
Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:22:52 CST
Please note that the latest drought monitor week is measured with data gathered between Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, therefore conditions do not account for recent precipitation. Next week's drought monitor report will include changes based on recent weather, so keep an eye out for that next Thursday, Feb. 10!
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, with a few notable exceptions, the past week was mostly dry in the contiguous U.S. Heavy rain fell in southeast Texas this week, where large parts of ongoing drought or abnormal dryness saw improvement or full removal. Widespread precipitation fell in the Pacific Northwest, though this was primarily in areas not experiencing drought or was not enough to result in improvements to drought conditions. Heavy snow fell in a band across parts of western Kansas and eastern Colorado, totaling 27 inches at Mt. Sunflower, Kan. These snow events allowed for improvement to ongoing severe and extreme drought conditions. A powerful Nor'easter dropped heavy snow from eastern Virginia into southern and eastern New England. Mostly dry weather continued in Puerto Rico, where moderate drought conditions expanded and severe drought conditions were introduced. After heavy snow in Dec. helped to build up high elevation snowpack in the West, particularly in California, very dry weather took over in Jan. across much of the region, halting improvements to drought conditions and raising concerns about lagging snowpack if the drier weather continues as forecast.
In the southern Plains, the week was mostly dry across the region. Extreme drought conditions developed in parts of northeast Texas and severe drought conditions expanded in south-central Texas and north of Lubbock. At the same time, extreme drought conditions north of Lubbock shrank in coverage due to lessened precipitation deficits there. Overall, widespread extreme drought conditions persist across much of northwest Texas and western Oklahoma, with a narrow strip of exceptional drought present in the western Oklahoma Panhandle and northeast New Mexico. Burn bans remain in effect in parts of the Southern Plains, where the winter wheat crop is also struggling.
In the High Plains, a narrow band of heavy snow fell in eastern Colorado and western Kansas, leading to small improvements in severe and extreme drought conditions in these areas. Extreme drought also improved in the Denver area due to snowfall this week. Due to improved precipitation deficits, improved snowpack and improved soil moisture conditions, moderate and severe drought conditions improved in southeastern and west-central Wyoming. Increasing short-term precipitation deficits, along with unusually warm and windy weather, led to an expansion of severe drought conditions in northwest South Dakota. Short-term precipitation deficits are starting to build across southwest North Dakota. In northwest North Dakota, increased snowpack allowed for a reduction in moderate, severe and extreme drought conditions. In central and eastern Nebraska, Nebraska, moderate drought conditions increased in coverage and abnormal dryness grew slightly near and north of Lincoln.
The West was mostly dry this week. A small area of precipitation along the Idaho/Montana border improved conditions enough for a small reduction in abnormal dryness. Exceptional drought was introduced in and around Roswell, New Mexico this past week, due to significant short-term precipitation deficits and warm and windy conditions that have resulted in the loss of topsoil. After a very dry January, high-elevation snowpack in parts of the West has begun to drift away from the above-normal values from the start of the new year.
To view the Contiguous U.S. Drought Map, click here.
As of Feb. 3, winter storm Landon has covered the eastern half of the country with snow and ice, from New Mexico to Maine. In Oklahoma, snow has fallen over most of the state since Wednesday with some areas reporting up to 8 inches so far.
By Sunday and Monday, mostly dry weather is forecast across the contiguous U.S., though some precipitation is expected along the southeastern coast.
Looking ahead to Feb. 8 through 12, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center forecast strongly favors drier-than-normal weather across much of the West. The northern Plains are expected to experience warm, wet weather, while the southern Plains are expected to experience cool dry weather, with a mix of conditions taking place in the central plains.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Precipitation Outlook, click here.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Temperature Outlook, click here.
According to the Monthly Drought Outlook map, drought conditions are expected to persist in areas adjacent to the Pacific Northwest that were seeing drought improvement or removal. Drought development is likely in the High Plains and southern Arizona. In southeastern Oklahoma, drought conditions are expected to improve.
To view the Monthly Drought Outlook map, click here.
Oklahoma
With data ranging between Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, drought conditions held steady ahead of the major winter storm that dusted most of Oklahoma with snow. The storm brings some brief relief to our dry state, bringing inches of long-awaited precipitation to areas like that Panhandle that have received less than three inches in the last four months.
Right now, 96% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. Moderate drought conditions have decreased as overall drought conditions deteriorate, affecting nearly 11% of the state and increasing by less than 0.5%. Severe drought conditions affect 28% of the state, unchanged from last week. Extreme drought conditions affect 46%, unchanged from last week. Exceptional drought conditions affect nearly 3% of the state, unchanged from last week.
A small pocket of eastern Oklahoma continues to fight off abnormally dry conditions or worse.
The 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map shows Oklahoma is likely to receive below-normal precipitation levels for this time of year. The 6-to-10-day temperature outlook map shows higher-than-normal to normal temperatures are likely for most of the state.
To view the Oklahoma drought map, click here.
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