Active weather delivered heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms across much of the central United States during the week ending June 28, with rainfall patterns creating a patchwork of drought relief and persistent dry conditions in agricultural regions according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA.
Midwest receives significant moisture
Torrential rainfall struck the southern tier of the Midwest, easing or eradicating drought in many areas. Parts of Kentucky were especially hard hit by flash flooding, with some of the heaviest rain falling on June 27. Daily record totals at official airport observation sites included 3.06 inches in Evansville, Indiana, and 2.34 inches in Bowling Green, Kentucky. At least five flood-related fatalities were reported in Kentucky and Tennessee.
By June 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that topsoil moisture in agricultural regions was rated 39 percent surplus in Illinois, along with 37 percent in Missouri and 34 percent in Indiana.
Midwestern summer crops remained mostly in good shape, with roughly two-thirds of U.S. corn (67 percent) and soybeans (65 percent) rated in good to excellent condition on June 28, according to USDA. However, patchy dryness and moderate to severe drought existed across the upper Midwest.
High Plains shows mixed results
The High Plains experienced a patchwork of showers that provided drought relief in some areas while missing others entirely. Some of the heaviest rain, occasionally accompanied by thunderstorm-driven high winds and large hail, fell in portions of all six states in the region. However, southeastern Nebraska was one area that missed the precipitation.
One of the most impressive outbreaks of severe weather occurred on the night of June 28-29, when a swath of wind damage stretched from northwestern Nebraska into southeastern North Dakota and beyond. An unofficial wind gust to 131 mph was clocked in Hyde County, South Dakota, while a gust to 112 mph was recorded at a mesonet station near Ree Heights in Hand County, South Dakota.
Despite the rainfall, the USDA reported that rangeland and pastures continued to struggle. On June 28, statewide rangeland and pastures were rated 66 percent very poor in Nebraska, along with 63 percent in Colorado.
Looking ahead
Hot, humid weather will persist through the Independence Day weekend in most areas along and east of a line from the southern High Plains into the upper Midwest. Although the Midwest will remain hot, temperatures in most areas will barely reach stressful thresholds (95 degrees or higher) for corn and soybeans entering the weather-sensitive reproductive stage of development. Many Midwestern crops are progressing through the hot spell with adequate to locally surplus soil moisture.
Meaningful precipitation during the next five days should be limited to parts of Florida’s peninsula and the upper Midwest, with both areas potentially seeing 1 to 4 inches, with locally higher totals.
