US Drought Expands in Early June

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- The Drought Monitor showed expanding moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions across the Midwest. The data reflects weather up until June 6.

"Large-scale additions and expansions of abnormal dryness and moderate drought occurred, especially along and east of the Mississippi River and in central Minnesota, where the combination of precipitation deficits, low streamflow and declining soil moisture was most prevalent," the report stated. "Due to similar conditions along the Missouri River in western Iowa, some expansions were made to severe drought there."

The report did note localized heavy rains in western reaches of the Midwest but said they were not widespread enough to affect the map.

"Flash drought developing across much of the Corn Belt continues to be an issue here, for corn at least," DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said Thursday in his DTN's Market Weather Outlook video, which is posted every weekday morning. "The pattern will be changing and bringing more chances for precipitation through the region going forward, but the degree to which that will happen and the timing will be important."

The expanse of drought should shrink during the next few weeks.

"The entire region is basically in a hole needing to be filled up with rainfall, and it may take some time in which to do so. Hopefully there's enough time for any loss or damage to be limited," he said.

While the Drought Monitor showed worsening conditions in the Corn Belt, it also noted sizeable improvements in drought conditions through Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, states that have been suffering through long-term, exceptional drought conditions.

You can watch Baranick's explanation of the weather forces driving the forecast improvements here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

For more of DTN's coverage of Midwest drought conditions please read:

"Weather Pattern Becoming More Active, Drought Relief for Corn Belt Uncertain," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Corn Market Rally More Likely Weather Scare Than Structural Shift, Analysts Say," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Dryness and Drought Increasing Across the Midwest," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Illinois Is Drying Up Quickly," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. You can view details of the Drought Monitor here: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/….

Katie Dehlinger can be reached at katie.dehlinger@dtn.com

Follower her on Twitter at @KatieD_DTN

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