Drought conditions in Missouri have intensified over the past week, as highlighted in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map released on May 11th. The map, based on data from May 9th, reveals an expansion of drought-affected areas, particularly in Northeast and Central Missouri, posing challenges for the agricultural sector and raising concerns about water availability.
In the Green Hills area, moderate drought has emerged in the southeastern part of Livingston County, while the rest of the region is categorized as abnormally dry. Comparatively, the previous week only saw abnormally dry conditions in Linn County, along with parts of Sullivan, Putnam, Grundy, Livingston, Mercer, and Harrison counties. Daviess and Caldwell counties remained unaffected by drought or dryness during that period.
Northeast and Central Missouri have witnessed the escalation of moderate and severe drought, with the central region experiencing extreme drought conditions. Similarly, portions of Southwest Missouri now face extreme drought, which was limited to certain areas in the previous week. Southern and Northwest Missouri have also seen an expansion of abnormally dry conditions.
Currently, approximately 84.7% of the state is grappling with abnormally dry conditions or some degree of drought, representing a significant increase of 30.43% compared to the previous week. The worsening drought situation raises concerns about water availability for agriculture, livestock, and other vital sectors.
As of May 11th, the city of Trenton reported a rainfall deficit of 1.76 inches compared to the average year-to-date precipitation. In the past week, only 0.39 inches of rain were recorded, exacerbating the drought conditions in the region.
Farmers and communities across Missouri will need to closely monitor the evolving drought situation and implement sustainable water management strategies to mitigate the impact on crops, livestock, and overall water resources.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-BanksPhotos
Categories: Missouri, Livestock, Weather