Dryness expands in southern and eastern areas of the Midwest as growing season wanes
Drought spread across the Central and Southern Plains over the past week, as well as in southern and eastern areas of the Corn Belt, according to U.S. Drought Monitor for the week ending Sept. 14. Today’s Drought Summary notes, “Open weather across much of the country favored summer crop maturation and fieldwork, including harvest efforts and winter wheat planting.”
Hurricane Nicholas brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the middle and upper Texas coast, with locally heavy showers also dotting the lower Southeast. Late in the reporting period, some showers and thunderstorms also eased drought in the Upper Great Lakes region. But other areas of the Midwest and Plains remained fairly dry and above-normal temperatures dominated the western half of the country.
Consequently, short-term dryness is expanding in southern and eastern areas of the Midwest. Long-term dryness persists in the upper Midwest, despite the region catching some showers.
