Much of the Northeast US has entered an abnormally dry period in the past week, with moderate to severe regions expanding in Northern New York and New England.

Most of Pennsylvania and a majority of Ohio has also transitioned to a period of abnormally dry conditions.

Drought conditions in Northeast Minnesota continue to worsen with a pocket of severe drought developing in the past seven days around Grand Rapids.

Utah remains unchanged since last week, with moderate to severe drought conditions covering most of the state.

More information at regional, state, and county levels is available for growers from the United States Drought Monitor website.

US drought conditions from 30 June 2020 to 7 July 2020. Data provided by the National Drought Mitigation Center. Map produced by NEWA which is part of the New York State IPM Program at Cornell University.

Palmer Drought Severity Index

The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) changes slowly over months or years and does not accurately estimate short-term drought events (learn more here). But PDSI is useful for longer-term planning and management.

PDSI weekly values show moderate to severe drought in some areas of New England, the mid-Atlantic, and northern Minnesota. In contrast, areas of southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the central Appalachians are in extended moderate to very moist spells overall.

National Palmer Drought Severity Index values as of 4 July 2020 provided by the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.

Drought data provided by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This report is posted weekly by the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) which is part of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Contact the NEWA Help Desk for more information.