Entropy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I can imagine that the bees are struggling this summer if there's no pollen to collect! Hopefully the drought will continue to shrink. Meanwhile trouble is brewing on the Mississippi with low water levels. Link to entire article> http://news.yahoo.co...-205415696.html It would be really serious if water levels continue to drop for the economy of the Heartland! Are water levels still dropping along the Mississippi? It's been pretty wet here in Ohio recently. I'd guess there's been nearly eight inches of rain since the middle of July. It was dry before that time though. There was probably less than six inches of rain over the three-month period ending in mid-July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Are water levels still dropping along the Mississippi? It's been pretty wet here in Ohio recently. I'd guess there's been nearly eight inches of rain since the middle of July. It was dry before that time though. There was probably less than six inches of rain over the three-month period ending in mid-July. Looking at this map and seeing a lot of the tributaries in the mid-Mississippi River Valley are lower than normal, I would think the river is still low. usgs.gov/water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Updated drought monitor map: Not a whole lot of changes. West central OH is doing well for rainfall as of late. Parts of WI are doing better along with the I-80 corridor in Iowa. I would say from Milwaukee south along the lake the situation is a bit better than this map shows. Would say this area was more like low end D1 level now. Still a long ways to go for the southern half of IN and about 3/4 of IL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclone77 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 MLI now over 9" down since June 1st. If no rain were to occur between now and the end of August they'd have a shot at 10" short for meteorological summer. Looks like some good rain chances coming up though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Storm Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 LOT CWA year to date rainfall deficits heading into today... DPA: -11.39" MDW: -10.12" ARR: -9.72" Here: -9.18" RFD: -9.03" PWK: -7.43" UGN: -6.77" VPZ: -6.60" ORD: -6.01" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchaumburgStormer Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Updated drought monitor map: Not a whole lot of changes. West central OH is doing well for rainfall as of late. Parts of WI are doing better along with the I-80 corridor in Iowa. I would say from Milwaukee south along the lake the situation is a bit better than this map shows. Would say this area was more like low end D1 level now. Still a long ways to go for the southern half of IN and about 3/4 of IL. Isaac could make this map look a bit more mundane, but we need about 3 tropical remnant bullseyes to really start to change things. My parents live in Decatur, il and state that the water restrictions are quite tough down there right now. All commercial car washes closed, no watering, only get a glass of water in a restaurant if requested. Lake has been closed for a few weeks as the water is to low to use the docks, with some boats left high and dry. Isaac would help, but this is going to be a long slow recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fickle Heights Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Water level is rebounding in Newton and Jasper Cos., where about a dozen wells had gone dry. It helps the big farms nearby stopped irrigating too. http://www.jconline.com/article/20120826/NEWS/308260033/Water-level-rebounding-in-Parr?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Isaac could make this map look a bit more mundane, but we need about 3 tropical remnant bullseyes to really start to change things. My parents live in Decatur, il and state that the water restrictions are quite tough down there right now. All commercial car washes closed, no watering, only get a glass of water in a restaurant if requested. Lake has been closed for a few weeks as the water is to low to use the docks, with some boats left high and dry. Isaac would help, but this is going to be a long slow recovery. Long recovery no doubt for some areas. I think some deficits are around a foot if I'm not mistaken. If the remnants from Issac move this far north then the drought could be wiped out for the most part. Hopefully we can see tropical moisture flow into the subforum area next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Isaac could make this map look a bit more mundane, but we need about 3 tropical remnant bullseyes to really start to change things. My parents live in Decatur, il and state that the water restrictions are quite tough down there right now. All commercial car washes closed, no watering, only get a glass of water in a restaurant if requested. Lake has been closed for a few weeks as the water is to low to use the docks, with some boats left high and dry. Isaac would help, but this is going to be a long slow recovery. Yeah I agree. Isaac could eliminate the drought in the areas that are in the lower categories, but not in the harder hit areas that have 10-15" deficits. You really need a sustained wet pattern to correct that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 This August has almost had as much rainfall as the previous four months combined at IND. April: 3.36" May: 2.70" June: 0.09" July: 0.83" Total: 6.98" August: 6.44" (through 9:00am today) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Parts of central Michigan are still in abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions despite having a 4th wettest summer on record. It appears extreme short term rain events don't do much to clear the map, you need sustained wetness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMADreamer Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 We desperately need Isaac to make it here. We missed yesterdays "sure thing" of a rain. The local TV mets are driving me nuts because they basically over hype every small chance and it's like they forgot to take the drought into consideration with all of their forecasts. Basically for the last week they were saying everyone yesterday would get a good soaking and guess what, We got less then a tenth. The drought continues. Two things I think most mets forget. To actually go outside and feel the weather for themselves and that what your weather has been is what your weather will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 YEARLY: January 1 - August 27, 2012 precipitation totals and departures in Indiana Bloomington*: 16.30" -16.37" Evansville: 17.89" -12.65" Fort Wayne: 18.86" -7.53" Indianapolis: 22.49" -6.44" Indianapolis Eagle Creek: 22.13" -6.05" Muncie: 18.92" -8.55" Shelbyville: 16.72" -13.02" South Bend: 24.58" -0.20" Terre Haute*: 17.54" -13.13" Valparaiso: 18.79" -6.22" SUMMER: June 1 - August 27, 2012 precipitation totals and departures in Indiana Bloomington*: 4.55" -8.23" Evansville: 6.51" -3.79" Fort Wayne: 8.51" -3.08" Indianapolis: 7.43" -4.10" Indianapolis Eagle Creek: 8.99" -2.38" Muncie: 6.68" -5.22" Shelbyville: 3.67" -8.29" South Bend: 13.28" +2.22" Terre Haute*: 5.24" -6.99" Valparaiso: 9.02" -3.01" AUGUST 2012: precipitation totals and departures in Indiana (through the 27th) Bloomington*: 2.89" -0.11" Evansville: 4.02" +1.42" Fort Wayne: 3.51" +0.32" Indianapolis: 6.51" +3.78" Indianapolis Eagle Creek: 8.36" +5.64" Muncie: 3.10" +0.24" Shelbyville: 2.96" +0.11" South Bend: 5.26" +1.99" Terre Haute*: 4.42" +1.42" Valparaiso: 3.12" -0.66" *indicates some days missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Latest drought monitor for Indiana. Tabular drought statistics in Indiana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardMafia Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Latest drought monitor for Indiana. Tabular drought statistics in Indiana. I bet will see some big changes in the map next week.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I bet will see some big changes in the map next week.. Most definitely. Already nice improvements in the past three weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWXwx Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Goes from abnormally dry to exceptional drought in 200 miles (Chicago to Terre Haute). Neat stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddylonglegs Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 We are going to need 5-10 inches of rain this fall to recharge the soil, or so i'd imagine...its like dust right now.. I've still been watering trees, plants... that 2 inches of rain this month didn't help much... The one thing that has helped is morning dew and shorter days...the grass really seems to respond to that, along with more shade caused by the lower sun (trees to my south). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Storm Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Yearly deficit is once again up to a new high here...and is now over 10"... Year: 16.38" (-10.12") Jan: 1.63" (-0.23") Feb: 1.72" (+0.17") Mar: 2.00" (-0.29") Apr: 2.10" (-1.59") May: 3.15" (-1.05") June: 1.42" (-2.56") July: 1.94" (-1.86") Aug: 2.38" (-2.42") Sep: 0.04" (-0.29") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonger Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Parts of central Michigan are still in abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions despite having a 4th wettest summer on record. It appears extreme short term rain events don't do much to clear the map, you need sustained wetness. I would have to guess that the usable water in the soil decreases rapidly. This probably means that numerous smaller rain events provide a better moisture source for plants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Isaac did well. Latest drought monitor for the Midwest. Exceptional drought conditions drop to 0.93% (7.09% last week) Extreme drought conditions drop to 14.26% (33.19% last week) Severe drought conditions drop to 45.09% (49.96% last week) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Individual state numbers with the new drought monitor. Illinois Exceptional drought conditions decreased to 0.00% (7.82% last week) Extreme drought conditions decreased to 6.96% (69.56% last week) Severe drought conditions decreased to 56.33% (94.11% last week) Indiana Exceptional drought conditions decreased to 0.00% (10.80% last week) Extreme drought conditions decreased to 0.00% (39.22% last week) Severe drought conditions decreased to 54.67% (64.07% last week) Iowa Exceptional drought conditions increased to 2.36% (0.00% last week) Extreme drought conditions increased to 62.15% (58.30% last week) Severe drought conditions unchanged 100.00% (same last week) Missouri Exceptional drought conditions decreased to 3.01% (35.29% last week) Extreme drought conditions decreased to 31.88% (97.44% last week) Severe drought conditions decreased to 97.85% (100.00% last week) Wisconsin Extreme drought conditions decreased to 6.04% (6.18% last week) Severe drought conditions decreased to 29.39% (29.90% last week) Moderate drought conditions increased to 47.38% (40.74% last week) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Chicago wx - yeah the map has really improved. All the D4 is out of IL and IN now. - Almost all of the D3 as well. Still can't believe that southern WI is still rated as extreme. Things are growing better then the have all year. Starting to resemble a temperate rainforest or something similar! Been cutting the grass twice a week for the last 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclone77 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Sure doesn't seem like we're borderline extreme drought here anymore like the monitor shows. Of course that's based on long term time scales. It's been wet enough lately that it's pretty green around here again. The crops are all brown but that's not uncommon this time of year. On the other hand the crop yields are gonna be far from common unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowMeHunter Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Pike, Root, and Fox river I checked out today are very very low still Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Pike, Root, and Fox river I checked out today are very very low still At the gauging stations at least the water level is normal to above normal. http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&r=wi&w=map The Pike River never really looks "normal". Unless there has been heavy rain in the last 36 hour or so, the river will be about 1-2 feet deep max. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowMeHunter Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 when we have to get out of the john boat and push it through shallow water to get to some honey holes the river IS low. very, very low was a slight exageration and it is better than on monday when it was terribly low. and little flow. Went back down to kenosha looking for a few trout for the smoker but the water is just a sauna right now and nothing is in. Was nice to see the mouth of the Pike had opened up since yesterday..tho nothing will be coming up until the water temps drops down to the lower 60's or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 4.83" in September for IND, through 7:00am this morning. That's already good for the 24th wettest September on record for Indianapolis (since 1871). According to KIND http://www.crh.noaa....=87132&source=0 , it's already the 10th wettest August-September in recorded history. Quite the reversal, as not long ago, IND had their driest June-July in recorded history. 2012 far and away the driest June-July for Indianapolis in their recorded history (since 1871). Driest June-July 0.92" in 2012 2.45" in 1930 2.78" in 1940 3.08" in 1991 3.41" in 1967 3.55" in 1954 3.58" in 1936 3.66" in 1922 3.67" in 1908 3.85" in 1893 3.86" in 1887 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago WX Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Hard to imagine there's been a lot reversals/differences like this from one year to the next. Year to date rainfall totals/departures in the PAH CWA through September 7 for 2011 and 2012. Cape Girardeau MO 2011: 46.65" +14.83" 2012: 18.51" -13.31" Evansville IN 2011: 45.56" +13.97" 2012: 22.04" -9.55" Paducah KY 2011: 50.36" +17.14" 2012: 19.65" -13.57" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Rent Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Just drove through the country side, lots of standing and flowing water in places we haven't seen it in quite a while. Most of the short term affects are probably being negated. It's going to take a while to get these resivors up to summer pool to start the winter with. Sent from my SCH-I535 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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