Drought worsens in some areas

July heat and dryness rapidly worsened drought conditions across the northern Plains and upper Midwest.

The latest outlook report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center indicates that drought should largely continue in this region and also southward into Texas as well.

In contrast, the summer monsoon rains are likely to offer short-term relief to the Southwest, Colorado, and southern Wyoming. Relief for water supplies will likely need to wait until next winter’s snow season, at the earliest, since snow melt is the major source for water in the West. Some improvement is also expected in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, as well as the interior South. The best odds for improvement extend along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to northern Florida and into the southern Appalachians, as well as parts of southern Texas.

To view the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook map, go to: http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

NOAA

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