2012 Drought May Become Worse Than 1988 Drought/Heat

“As of Tuesday, 61% of land in the lower 48 states was experiencing drought conditions — stretching from Nevada to South Carolina — the highest percentage in the 12-year record of the U.S. Drought Monitor….Villwock says the drought is already larger in scope than in 1988, and he fears it will intensify to become worse. Many areas in the southern Midwest are reporting the poorest conditions for June since 1988.” – from a CNN article below.

Giant Solar Storm Barreling Toward Our Planet No Big Deal, Say Space Weather Forecaster (Video). Yeah – so don’t sweat the heat index ok? Details from The Christian Science Monitor: “A solar storm was due to arrive Saturday morning and last through Sunday, slamming into Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists said it will be a minor event, and they have notified power grid operators, airlines and other potentially affected parties. “We don’t see any ill effects to any systems,” said forecaster Joe Kunches at the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado. There’s a bright side to stormy space weather: It tends to spawn colorful northern lights as the charged particles bombard Earth’s outer magnetic field. Shimmering auroras may be visible at the United States–Canada border and northern Europe this weekend, Kunches said.”

Photo credit above: “This image provided by NASA shows a solar flare, lower center, erupting from the sun on Thursday. Space weather scientists said there should be little impact here on Earth.” NASA/AP

18 days/row of 90+ heat at Fort Wayne, a record for consecutive 90-degree days.

Last 2 Weeks – Percentage Of Normal Rainfall. I can’t remember seeing this much of a rainfall extreme in the span of 2 weeks. Portions of Texas (near Houston) have seen 6 times more rain than normal in the last 14 days – while no rain has fallen over California (not that unusual for July). But across much of the Corn Belt rainfall has ranged from 0 to 10% of normal since July 1. Map above: NOAA.

1,016 counties in 26 states declared disaster areas, due to severe drought conditions.
40% of America’s corn crop described as in “good” condition, according to the USDA.
78% of America’s corn-producing counties are in drought. USDA.
Now is when corn farmers most need rain, during the 10-12 day tassling phase.
$2 billion in insurance claims from June fires, floods and severe thunderstorms. Details from madison.com below.

Drought Threatens To Darken Obama’s Reelection Plans. Here’s an excerpt from The Christian Science Monitor: “A massive drought parching some of America’s most productive farm regions is pushing food prices up to the point where wilting corn plants could influence the presidential election. More than 1,000 US counties – many of them in the grain capitals of the Midwest – have applied for federal disaster relief, meaning they’ve had drought conditions for more than eight weeks. Moreover, 61 percent of the US is now considered drought-stricken, the highest percentage in the 12-year history of the US Drought Monitor. Drought or no drought, the US will still produce about a third of the world’s corn and will see its third-largest corn crop ever. Moreover, a drought prognosis by Iowa State University agri-economist Chad Hart suggests that parts of the country – including Georgia and portions of Texas – are likely to see relief as the summer progresses, even as some part of the Midwest may see dry conditions worsen.”

Japanese Ordered To Evacuate Flood-Hit Island. This is a remarkable video clip, courtesy of aljazeera.com; here’s an excerpt: “Almost a quarter of a million people have been ordered to leave their homes in southwest Japan as heavy rain pounds the area for the third day, leaving at least 20 people dead, officials and reports say. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of more landslides and floods on the main southern island of Kyushu as rainfall of up to 11 centimetres per hour was recorded early on Saturday. The agency warned that rainfall of up to 80 millimetres per hour could hit parts of northern Kyushu later in the day.”

Drought Stretches Across America, Threatens Crops. Details from CNN.com: “A dry and mild spring led Don Villwock, like all of Indiana’s corn and soybean farmers, to plant two weeks early this year. He was hopeful for a bountiful Labor Day harvest. But the rain didn’t fall and June brought blistering heat. Now, as punishing drought grips the Midwest, Villwock, 61, walks his hard-hit 4,000 acres in southwest Indiana in utter dismay. Where there should have been tall, dark green, leafy plants, there now stand corn stalks that are waist high or, at best, chest high. They are pale in color and spindly. Fragile. Tired.” (map above: U.S. Department of Agriculture).

2012 Drought Could Stall Mississippi River Barge Traffic. AccuWeather.com has the story; here’s an excerpt: “The ongoing drought has river levels along the Mississippi River plunging to very low levels this summer and could stall barge traffic in some areas into the autumn if rainfall does not come soon. It was just last year when levels along the Mississippi River and many of its tributaries were close to record high levels. What a difference a year makes. Falling river levels are not uncommon during the summer months in the central and eastern United States. However, the building drought over much of the middle of the nation currently has the mighty Mississippi running well below normal and levels in many areas are likely to fall through much of the summer, unless widespread rain comes.”

Photo credit above: “As levels continue to drop along a long stretch of the Mississippi River in the coming weeks, the risk of grounding incidents will increase.” (Photos.com image)

Drought: Natural Disaster Declarations In 26 U.S. States. Details from The Guardian; here’s an excerpt: “America declared a natural disaster in more than 1,000 drought-stricken counties in 26 states on Thursday. It was the largest declaration of a national disaster and was intended to speed relief to about a third of the country’s farmers and ranchers who are suffering in drought conditions. The declaration from the US department of agriculture includes most of the south-west, which has been scorched by wildfires, parts of the Midwestern corn belt, and the south-east.It was intended to free up funds for farmers whose crops have withered in extreme heatwave conditions linked by scientists to climate change.”

Photo credit above: “A tractor ploughs a corn field near Hondo, Texas. Natural disaster has been declared in many areas across the southern United States.” Photograph: Eric Gay/AP

5-Day Rainfall Forecast. Soaking, 2-3″+ rains are predicted for Tennessee and Kentucky this week, but the heaviest rains will probably pass just south/east of the corn belt. The Central Plains stay dry, along with the far western USA.  Map: NOAA HPC.
 

Flooding Threat Not Over Yet For Houston Area. While much of America withers, the rain just won’t stop for much of east Texas, in stark contrast to last summer’s historic drought. Here’s an excerpt from The Houston Chronicle: “Yet another day of widespread rainfall across the Houston area produced the city’s most significant flooding in more than two years, prompting rescues from flooded homes and vehicles. The worst flooding was northwest of Houston, where more than 15 inches of rain have fallen during the last five days, driving Cypress Creek well above its flood stage and even higher than during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Francisco Sanchez, a Harris County spokesman, as Cypress Creek was still rising Friday afternoon.”

Photo credit above: “Janet and Jerry Turner watch and wait to have water removed from their flooded home on Pine Belt on Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Cypress.” (Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle)

Monsoon Flooding In Phoenix. Tropical moisture surging northward into Arizona sparked serious flash flooding yesterday; details via Facebook: “Watch for high water over roadways!! Turn around, don’t drown! (US 60 & Val Vista – csty of ADOT).”