Drought conditions improve across the northern U.S.

The March 17^th drought monitor shows 75.8% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, down 1% from the previous week, with 54.8% in D1 level drought or higher, up .8%. Currently 41% (down 5%) of corn acres are in D1-D4 drought with 42% (down 4%) of soybean acres, and 55% (unchanged) of winter wheat acres also impacted. For livestock, 54% (unchanged) of the U.S.cattle herd is in D1-D4 drought conditions with 32% (down 4%) of dairy cattle also in drought.

Precipitation was well distributed across the northern portion of the continental U.S. last week, with areas from the northwest Interior to the Great Lakes impacted by a powerful winter storm system that dropped both rainfall and snow across that range. Rainfall was spottier further south, but notable improvements still occurred across most of the Midwest. Snowpack concerns persist in the central and southern portions of the Rocky Mountains.

The National Weather Service expects mostly drier patterns to dominate weather next week, although some areas along the Pacific coast are expected to see continued rainfall. Most of the Great Plains and Gulf Coast states are likely to stay completely dry, with spotty areas across the Ohio River Valley expected to receive rainfall totalling less than half an inch next week. Temperatures are expected to be warmer than normal for nearly the entire U.S.

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