Ag Weather Forum

Rainfall totals for the summer through late August (June/July/August) in the Midwest show some definite dryness trends--especially after the month of June. The totals, compiled by my colleague Joel Burgio, are indicated below. Before that, however, I do have to say that a comment from this past week's crop tour really struck me--and that was how "surprising" it was for some scouts to see how dry things were in Illinois. I thought that such a feature had been more widely discussed--I believe we have called attention to it--but apparently not.

Here's the summary:

June 1-Aug 25 (in inches)

State Avg Precip Normal Precip % Normal

MN 9.01 10.41 86%

(MN was 134% of normal in June but 62% in July and 49% August)

IA 7.42 11.37 64%

(IA was 90% of normal in June, 46% of normal July and 51% August)

NE 6.14 10.11 61%

(NE was 72% of normal in June, 28% July and 95% August)

MO 8.79 10.28 88%

(MO was 128% of normal in June, 66% July and 55% August)

SD 6.59 7.97 83%

(SD was 99% of normal in June, 77% July and 56% August)

WEST CORN BELT AVERAGES

7.56 10.30 74%

(WCB 102% of normal in June, 53% July and 60% August)

WI 11.75 10.45 112%

(WI was 194% of normal in June, 62% July and 67% August)

IL 9.16 10.71 86%

(IL was 133% of normal in June, 68% July and 37% August)

MI 8.95 8.55 105%

(MI was 163% of normal in June, 60% July and 80% August)

IN 10.74 10.45 104%

(IN was 143% of normal in June, 75% July and 88% August)

OH 12.41 9.68 129%

(OH was 150% of normal in June, 140% July and 79% August)

KY 15.51 10.90 142%

(KY was 171% of normal in June, 123% July and 121% August)

EAST CORN BELT AVERAGES

11.15 10.17 110%

(ECB was 154% of normal in June, 87% July and 76% August)

Some real dramatic dryness shows up as well. Cedar Rapids, Iowa with .12 inch precip in August is only 4 percent of normal (down 96 pct). Burlington IA with just .01 inch is down 100 pct (0 pct). Same story with Kirksville, MO with 0 and a normal of 3.86 inches through August 25. Aberdeen, SD with just .10 inch precip is only 7 percent of normal (down 93 pct). Quincy, IL .03 inch, down 99 percent from normal. Champaign, IL with just .11 inch is 95 percent below normal. Peoria, IL with .33 inch is down 87 percent from normal.

Bryce

Twitter @BAndersonDTN

(ES/AG)

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