The percentage of major cattle, hay and corn areas listed as being in drought, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. The percentages are one of the lowest since these stats started to be tracked in 2011..
The wettest winter on record with an average of 8.99” of precipitation for the contiguous U.S. That is, until this year. The 2018-2019 clocked in with an average of 9.0” of moisture just beating out the mega El Niño of the late 90’s.
The next week (thru March 22) should be relatively dry for much of the country. This is a welcome relief for those caught in the Bomb Cyclone this week. Exceptions include parts of the Southwest (primarily southern Colorado, New Mexico, and down to Far West Texas), South Texas, western Kansas, and Florida. All of which could see above normal precipitation.
California is now officially drought free for the first time since December 20, 2011. Until this week some part of the state had been in drought for 376 consecutive weeks. That beats Texas that saw a string of 276 weeks from May 2010 to July 2015 and Oklahoma, which observed 261 weeks in about the same time period between 2010 and 2015.
The number of counties in Kansas that have observed their top ten wettest winters on record. Mitchell and Washington Counties observed their wettest on record.
What some were reporting on Wednesday, March 14th, during the winter storm (aka Bomb Cyclone) that clobbered the Northern Plains. Many parts of the Dakotas observed their second or third coldest Februarys on record. Auction reports are seeing a decline in cattle condition and cattle feeders are seeing reduced performance. The intensity of this storm has certainly not helped as many or in the middle of calving. Send good thoughts up north, it has been a rough winter!