WEATHER OUTLOOK
BY
BRAD RIPPEY USDA Meteorologist
D
SPONSORED BY
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
uring meteorological autumn (September-November 2023), drought coverage across the Lower 48 states was nearly steady, ranging from 36%-40%, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. However, there was significant regional variability, with
Southeastern flash drought contrasting with an improving drought situation across large sections of the Great Plains, as well as an area stretching from the Pacific Northwest into the upper Midwest. In recent weeks, El Niño, a phenomenon appearing for the first time since 2018- 2019 and marked by unusually warm water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, appears to be finally taking the reins of North American weather patterns. Notably, late-autumn and early-winter storm systems have produced heavy, drought-easing rain in the South, especially in the Gulf Coast States. Heavy winter precipitation in the Deep South is typical during El Niño, due to an amplified subtropical jet stream, and winter forecasts from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center indicate Southeastern wetness is likely to continue into early 2024. At the same time, parts of the northern U.S. have experienced unusually dry weather in recent weeks, also emblematic of El Niño. Elsewhere, the western U.S. is heading into winter with significantly less drought coverage than a year ago. By the end of November, drought covered less than one-third (28%) of the
11-state Western region, down from 69% a year ago. That change is evident in water storage, with California — currently free of drought — reporting statewide storage in 154 key reservoirs nearly doubling (from 68 to 125% of the historical average) during the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 2023.
U.S. seasonal drought outlook Valid for Dec. 1, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024 | Released May 31, 2023
AD INDEX
Fuji Electric |
americas.fujielectric.com ............31
Ipex USA |
ipexna.com .......................19
Irrigation Association |
irrigation.org ......................27
Irrigation Leader |
irrigationleadermagazine.com .....35
Irrigation Show |
irrigationshow.org .................35
Irrigation Today |
irrigationtoday.org .................23
Irrometer |
irrometer.com .....................37
Irrigation Today |
irrigationtoday.org ................23
Nelson Irrigation Corp. |
nelsonirrigation.com ..............39
Rainfine |
rainfineirrigation.com .............13
Seametrics |
seametrics.com ...................15
Senninger |
senninger.com ....................40
Tempo Communications |
tempocom.com ....................5
T-L Irrigation |
tlirr.com ............................2
USDA |
usda.gov ............................9
Westlake Pipe & Fittings |
westlakepipe.com ..................7
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Consistency adjustment based on Monthly Drought Outlook for December 2023
Author Rich Tinker NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Climate Prediction Center
Depicts large-scale trends based on subjectively derived probabilities guided by short- and long-range statistical and dynamical forecasts. Use caution for applications that can be affected by short lived events. “Ongoing” drought areas are based on the U.S. Drought Monitor areas (intensities of D1 to D4).
NOTE: The tan areas imply at least a 1-category improvement in the Drought Monitor intensity levels by the end of the period, although drought will remain. The green areas imply drought removal by the end of the period (D0 or none).
Drought persists
Drought remains but improves Drought removal likely
Drought development likely Source: U.S. Drought Monitor 38 Irrigation TODAY | Winter 2024
Irrigation Today is the only magazine that puts on-farm agricultural irrigation center stage. As the go-to publication for irrigation professionals, your presence in Irrigation Today puts your company in direct contact with those you want to reach — growers, dealers, extension agents, irrigation districts and government agencies.
Supporting Irrigation Today also means partnering with the Irrigation Association to join in its work to promote the value and importance of the agriculture irrigation industry. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to reach thousands of agriculture profession- als with your company’s message. Check out the media planner at
irrigationtoday.org/ advertise or contact your sales rep (see p. 4) for more information.
irrigationtoday.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
