By Blake Jackson
Missouri agriculture is facing significant financial losses due to persistent drought, with 16 drought disasters since the 1980s costing between $10 billion and $20 billion, according to University of Missouri Extension climatologist Zachary Leasor. This “persistent drought” doesn’t resolve with occasional rainfall, deeply affecting soil moisture.
To better understand this issue, the Missouri Climate Center team is installing in-ground moisture sensors at select Missouri Mesonet weather stations.
This initiative, in partnership with the Missouri Hydrology Information Center and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, aims to develop a statewide soil and atmospheric monitoring plan and create daily soil moisture maps.
Leasor explains that soil moisture data is crucial for understanding water storage and movement within the soil, as well as the exchange of water between the atmosphere and land.
Missouri has experienced three consecutive years of drought, with 2024 recording the 11th-driest August-to-October period since 1895. By late October 2024, southwestern Missouri faced extreme drought conditions, with rainfall deficits of 6 inches or more.
However, late November 2024 brought significant rainfall, with St. Louis recording its second-wettest November on record. Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia also saw above-average precipitation, and several one- and two-day rainfall records were broken.
In addition to rainfall shortages, Missouri experienced higher temperatures in 2024, with the annual temperature 3.5 degrees above normal. This made 2024 the state’s second-warmest year in 130 years of records.
Looking ahead to 2025, Leasor notes that La Nina's impact remains uncertain. While January and February saw colder and snowier conditions, winter precipitation is slightly below average.
La Nina typically brings wetter conditions to eastern Missouri, but current drought areas are mostly in the west. The weak and short-lived nature of this La Nina adds to the uncertainty.
Leasor also highlights the improved communication about drought through the U.S. Drought Monitoring Network, which includes over 400 scientists providing local condition input. This network enhances understanding of drought and improves decision-making.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-banksphotos
Categories: Missouri, Weather