The U.S. is baking during the warmest 12-months on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and those records go back to 1895. June was also the tenth driest on record for the country as a whole, leading to drought conditions.
More of the United States is in moderate drought or worse than at any other time in the 12-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor, according to officials from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Analysis of the latest drought monitor data revealed that 47% of the nation’s land area is in various stages of drought, up from 43% a week ago. Previous records were 46% in drought on Aug. 26, 2003, and 46% on Sept. 10, 2002.
Looking only at the 48 contiguous states, 56% percent of the country’s land area is in moderate drought or worse — also the highest percentage on record in that regard, officials said.
“The recent heat and dryness is catching up with us on a national scale,” said Michael J. Hayes, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center. “Now, we have a larger section of the country in these lesser categories of drought than we’ve previously experienced in the history of the Drought Monitor.”
Moderate drought’s telltale signs are some damage to crops and pastures, with streams, reservoirs or wells getting low. At the other end of the scale, exceptional drought includes widespread crop and pasture losses, as well as shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells, creating water emergencies. So far, just 9% of the country is in either extreme or exceptional drought.
But the widespread moderate-to-severe drought is more than enough to endanger landscapes, especially new plant installations that need to be watered in. Landscape maintenance professionals can help their customers conserve water by installing low-flow, smart irrigation systems, and educating them on proper irrigation techniques, as well as the importance of water conservation.
“During 2002 and 2003, there were several very significant droughts taking place that had a much greater areal coverage of the more severe and extreme drought categories,” Hayes said. “Right now we are seeing pockets of more severe drought, but it is spread out over different parts of the country. It’s early in the season, though.”
The U.S. Drought Monitor is a joint endeavor by the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and drought observers across the country.
