Pat Guinan
Pat Guinan
drought ground june normal quick recovery restore water
Quick recovery from the drought is not likely. Even normal rainfall in May and June can't restore ground water levels.
below deficit drought eye less months normal past percent received
Joplin has been the bull's eye for the drought in Missouri, where 11 of the past 12 months have received below normal rainfall. The precipitation deficit is now approaching 20 inches, or less than 60 percent of normal.
direction step welcome
This is a welcome step in the right direction, but we have a long way to go to make up the deficits.
below fell inches missouri mother near normal occurred
The mother of all droughts in southwest Missouri occurred from 1952 to 1956 when precipitation in Joplin fell more than 81 inches below normal in a five-year period. Fortunately, we're no where near that right now.
dire full rains situation year
You have to look back 43 years, to 1963, to find anything this severe. It is a dire situation that may take over a year for full recovery, once the rains return.