Drought Conditions Expand in the Upper Midwest

Drought conditions are holding tight in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, and Upper Midwest, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.

Watch a 12-week progression of U.S. drought conditions:

Drought expanded in Minnesota and Iowa as high temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees above normal, combined with little or below normal rainfall, dried out soils and stressed vegetation. Rainfall deficits of 4” to 10” are present over the last 90 days.

Meanwhile, other Midwestern states such as Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Ohio are nearly drought-free. Illinois is also nearly drought-free, except for the northern edge. 

In the High Plains, another hot and dry week coupled with isolated showers brought little drought improvement.

Drought expanded in parts of Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska, which missed out on the heaviest rainfall. Soils remain dry with USDA reporting that 92% of South Dakota and 76% of North Dakota’s topsoil moisture is short to very short, leading to limited hay production and stunted crop growth. 

In North Dakota, rainfall is finally helping to chip away at the long-term drought that has plagued the state since fall of 2020.

As of July 6, 38% of the U.S. corn crop is within an area experiencing drought:

Similarly, 33% of the U.S. soybean crop is within an area experiencing drought:

The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center forecast for the remainder of the week (July 8 -13) shows tropical storm conditions and rainfall from Elsa will continue across parts of Florida and into the Southeast. Other areas expecting excessive rainfall include the Texas coast, Midwest and Northeast. 

In the West, the hot weather will continue with daytime highs well into the 90s and lower 100s. Moving into next week, the Climate Prediction Center outlook for July 13-17 favors above normal temperatures across much the West, northern Plains and Northeast. Below normal temperatures are most likely across the Southern Plains. 

Below normal precipitation is expected across the Northwest, Northern Plains and Florida while above normal precipitation is favored along a band stretching from the Southwest, across the Midwest and into the Northeast.

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