Drought conditions intensify in the mid-South

The January 20th drought monitor shows 69% of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal dryness or drought, up 1.3% from the previous week, with 44% in D1 level drought or higher, up 1.5%. Currently 29% of corn acres are in D1-D4 drought (up 1%) with 35% of soybean acres (up 1%), and 42% of winter wheat acres (up 1%) also impacted. For livestock, 35% of the U.S.cattle herd is in D1-D4 drought conditions (up 1%) with 29% of dairy cattle also in drought (unchanged).

Rainfall was more sparse over the continental U.S. over the past week, with precipitation mainly concentrated in the Great Lakes region in the form of snow, and spotty precipitation across the Plains and Southeast. Drought intensified across the mid-South. In northern Arkansas D4 level drought conditions, the most intense rating, were introduced this week. Temperatures in the eastern part of the country dropped significantly from the prior week, and are back near more normal levels for this time of year. The NWS noted that water storage in the Colorado River Basin currently sits at 17.3 million-acre feet, 53% of the historical average.

The National Weather Service expects a monstrous winter storm to occur from the southern Plains all the way to the mid-Atlantic coast with temperatures also dropping sharply as the system moves in to the area. Significant livestock stress is likely to occur where the heaviest snow and ice accumulation occurs. Temperatures are expected to dip as low as -30F in North Dakota, with areas as far south as the Ohio River Valley still seeing potential for sub-zero temperatures as well.

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