June 1, 2012

Drought conditions and subsequent impacts are being reported across western Nebraska. Vegetation broke dormancy about 30 days ahead of normal across the state and crop stress may appear rapidly if persistent rainfall doesn’t materialize this summer. With this current growing season so advanced, authors of the U.S Drought Monitor are asking for information to help them assess temperature and moisture impacts on crop health.

To help climatologists gain a clearer picture of local impacts that may be missed when assessing conditions on a national scale, you are invited to report any impacts associated with drought conditions (positive or negative) to the Drought Impact Reporter.  Use the “Submit a Report” function.

Local feedback is important to the authors who rely on precipitation analysis to make an initial determination of drought intensity for a given area. Since these are statistically driven products, ground truth reporting helps them identify areas that are rapidly deteriorating so that an accurate assessment can be developed.

Al Dutcher
Extension State Climatologist