The drought continues
Friday, May 2, 2008
March and April brought beneficial rains and since the first of March we are about three quarters of an inch above normal rainfall. Drought conditions have improved for much of the area but the drought is not over yet.
So when will the drought officially be over? Technically it is half over. Last fall the drought was classified as both agricultural and hydrological. The first meaning that the crops and our landscapes were suffering from a lack of rain. A hydrological drought meant that the lakes, rivers and water table underground that provide our drinking water were suffering from a lack of rain.
With the parade of storms this spring the agricultural drought is over. The growing season has benefited from a above normal rainfall.
The hydrological drought however continues although there has been dramatic improvement this spring. This USGS map shows streamflows in rivers across North Carolina.
The map was covered with yellow and red dots up until just a few weeks ago denoting below normal streamflows and low water levels. Now, greens and blues are the norm except for a pocket in the western part of the state where water levels remain below normal.
Underground the water table has risen several feet in most locations but there is still more improvement that needs to occur.
So the drought is almost over but the hot dry months of summer are still ahead. We'll need the parade of storms to continue. We also need to continue conserving water where we can. If nothing else the latest drought has shown us just how vulnerable we are to water shortages.
So when will the drought officially be over? Technically it is half over. Last fall the drought was classified as both agricultural and hydrological. The first meaning that the crops and our landscapes were suffering from a lack of rain. A hydrological drought meant that the lakes, rivers and water table underground that provide our drinking water were suffering from a lack of rain.
With the parade of storms this spring the agricultural drought is over. The growing season has benefited from a above normal rainfall.
The hydrological drought however continues although there has been dramatic improvement this spring. This USGS map shows streamflows in rivers across North Carolina.
The map was covered with yellow and red dots up until just a few weeks ago denoting below normal streamflows and low water levels. Now, greens and blues are the norm except for a pocket in the western part of the state where water levels remain below normal.
Underground the water table has risen several feet in most locations but there is still more improvement that needs to occur.
So the drought is almost over but the hot dry months of summer are still ahead. We'll need the parade of storms to continue. We also need to continue conserving water where we can. If nothing else the latest drought has shown us just how vulnerable we are to water shortages.
posted by Terri Bennett @ 6:10 PM
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