1. State Climate Office Drought Update
Adnan Akyuz, Ph.D.
NDSU, AES
State Climatologist
Updated 8/23/2018

2. Countywide Precipitation Anomalies and Rankings
July 2018 (48th Wettest)
June-July 2018 (22nd Wettest)
Blue/Brown colors indicate wetter/drier than long-term ( ) average.

3. Countywide Temperature Anomalies and Rankings
July 2018 (60th Warmest/65th Coolest)
June-July 2018 (17th Warmest)
Blue/Brown colors indicate wetter/drier than long-term ( ) average.

4. 30-Day Precipitation
Total Accumulation
% of Normal
(NDAWN Images)

5. Long Term Precipitation % of Normal
60 Days
90 Days
(NDAWN Images)

6. (% Change from previous week)
Cumulative % area
(% Change from previous week)
None
22%
(-22%) D2 3%
(+1%) D1
26%
(+18%) DO
78%
(21%)

7. State Coverage and Intensity

8. Drought Change
One-week Change
4-week Change

9. Drought Severity and Coverage Index (Statewide)
329
(Aug 8, 2006)
295
(Aug 8, 2017)
106
(+41)
Drought Severity and Coverage Index = ADO + 2AD1 + 3AD2 + 4AD3 + 5AD4 (Akyüz, 2007)
Where: A is a % of the state covered under the corresponding D-severity

10. Accumulated Drought Severity and Coverage Index (Statewide)
10,083
(+106)
9,530
10,645
9663
19,319
2116
1714
*Numbers indicate the area under the DSCI Index Curve
*Akyuz (2017)

11. Soil Moisture and Bare Soil Temperature
Soil Moisture Departure from Normal
5-week Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
(40mm = 1.6”)

12. Corn GDD Accumulation Forecast*
Black Layer: Aug 28
*This graphic is created for Cass County based on:
88 day corn
May 10 planting date
Median first day of killing frost: Oct 8
*U2U Decision Support Tools:

13. Soybean GDD Accumulation Forecast*
Black Layer: Aug 28
*This graphic is created for Cass County based on:
88 day corn
May 10 planting date
Median first day of killing frost: Oct 8
*U2U Decision Support Tools:

14. 7-day Forecast* Thu 1am, Aug 23 through Thu 1am, Aug 30
*College of DuPage
Next Generation Weather Lab

15. 14-day Forecast* Thu 1am, Aug 23 through Thu 1am, Sep 6
*College of DuPage
Next Generation Weather Lab

16. Medium Range Forecast
Week 3-4 Precipitation
Week 3-4 Temperature

17. Long Range Forecast CPC Sep-Nov Precipitation Outlook
CPC Sep-Nov Temperature Outlook

18. County-wide Agricultural Impacts for the week
Climate Division
Drought Impact by counties
1: North-West
Ward: Severely Dry. No rain and high temperatures since early July have depleted soil moisture. Shallow water sources are dried up, deeper ponds and sloughs have diminished water quality concerns. Soybeans are drought stressed.
2: North-Central
Pierce: Moderately Dry. Topsoil and subsoil is very dry throughout the county, sloughs are drying up, corn is continuing to burn up and soybeans are severely stressed. Sloughs are drying up, water holes are still producing water but levels are lower than usual, blue green algae is becoming an increasing concern. A lot of oats was planted for forage and producers are haying slough bottoms, ditches and weed patches in fields.
McHenry: Severely Dry. With spotty showers and minimal moisture our pastures are going dormant. Since they were stunted this spring the outlook on pasture and hay land is poor. Crops have had issues as well corn and bean yields will be down with the lack of moisture and HOT weather recently. There is one producer I know of that has started feeding hay in the pasture already. Baling every available acre to make sure they have winter feed. This would include weeds in the field left behind after harvest. Grass has gone dormant, regular watering is needed in the garden and flowers. Pastures that normally are rotationally grazed only have the capacity to be grazed once and for only a short period of time. The dry conditions are affecting everyone.
Bottineau: Moderately Dry. Many individuals are seeking out hay sources to supplement already. Many producers are hauling water to pastures as many sources have dried up or producer is concerned about stagnant water/blue-green algae.
3: North-East
Walsh: Severely Dry. Our pastures are dormant, we have less than half a hay crop, late crop is burning up as we speak. I expect our pinto beans to be less than half a crop, cattlemen are starting to haul water and feed hay, soybean crop is also on the ropes. We are also seeing impact on our potato crop with smaller tubers and fewer. Pasture have gone dormant except for low lying areas. We still have water in most areas but the water quality is becoming a huge issue. We have a fire ban in place. We have posted algae warnings on the local recreational areas, small stock ponds and water sources are of reduced quality and some may be unfit for cattle. pinto beans, corn and soybeans are burning up on the Fordville sands and across the county. Some pockets east of Grafton that does look better but under stress.

19. County-wide Agricultural Impacts for the week
Climate Division
Drought Impact by counties
4: West
Mercer: Severely Dry. Temp at 104F for two days in upper 90's over the last ten days has cause drought stress to take a toll on row crops. Pastures are drying up and dugouts are starting to dry up and algae levels increasing. Grass in yards is browning, hay fields are not greening back up after they have been cut for hay. Creeks have stop running and dugouts levels are dropping water quality is becoming an issue and temps close or over 100 degrees is aiding to the problems. Burn ban went back on this week. Some producers say hay will still be short this year. Heat stress showing up in crops and on livestock. Sunflowers, Soybeans and Corn really taking a hit with the crazy Temps last weekend and low 90’s this past week, no measureable rain in about 25 days now for Mercer County.
Oliver: Moderately Dry. No rain and extreme heat this past week has late season crops burning up and early leaf dry up and loss.
Dunn: Severely Dry. No major rainfall in over 2 weeks, pastures are getting used up and barely any 2nd cuttings have been happening.
5: Central
Eddy: We have been keeping rain totals her at the office since the beginning of May with our CocoRahs rain gauge. Since May we have recorded 1.08 in May, 5.52 in June, 3.19 in July and .08 in August. When you look at the total rainfall it doesn’t look so bad. June was actually a pretty good month. July was not that bad either, but most of the rain in July came before the 8th of the month. So, it has been roughly 40+ days since we have received a really good rain. To add to this we started the spring with a soil profile that was way below adequate. The rains that we received this year spoon fed the crop. Never really soaking the ground up. Many parts of the county have not received a single rainfall totaling over an inch at one time. Once the rain shut off in early July the crop has gone backwards ever since. Three weeks ago I would have said we would have one of the best crops in a long time. Now, I think that it may be a very poor late season crop. Too much is burning up for lack of moisture. Just wanted to let you know the moisture situation here in Eddy County as the drought maps don’t quite show it being as dry as it is in this part of the state. Attached are a few pictures that I took this morning on some land a few miles East of New Rockford. Pretty much the whole county looks like this. Heavier ground of course is looking somewhat better that lighter ground and these pictures are off of some lighter ground. Heavier ground is not as bad but is suffering badly too.

20. County-wide Agricultural Impacts for the week
Climate Division
Drought Impact by counties
6: East-Central
Steele: I live in the very southeast corner of Steele County (I actually live in Cass County, but across the road to the north is Steele County) and yesterday was the first measurable rain we’ve received since June. The crops look pretty tough, however, they have been holding on. Pastures are dried up, as the grass has quit growing and has browned, with many waterholes drying up. Our family didn’t get a second cutting of alfalfa due to how dry it got, and it won’t be long before we have to start supplementing hay for the cows out on pasture.
Most corn in field perimeters, sand/gravel ridges, and hills has burned up, which can be expected to go first. However, the corn and soybeans had been curled for many weeks, trying to protect themselves. We will see a yield hit in soybeans and edible beans. Many edible bean fields are already being desiccated, because of how fast they were pushed due to lack of rainfall and high temperatures. The grasshoppers have flourished due to the lack of moisture as well, along with the spider mites in soybeans. The small grain harvest faired okay, as most had already filled by the time the superior heat showed up with no moisture.
The abnormally dryness spreads all thru Steele County, with the worst being in the southeastern portion, as the north portion (Finley and north) received timely rains in July, but now have also become abnormally dry again.
7: South-West
Golden Valley: Severely Dry. Lots of fire risk, pastures are showing severe stress in the last 2 weeks. Our local fire departments have responded to at least 6 fires in August so far. 2 burned more than 200 acres. Very dry, have not had significant rain since early June, and had no subsoil to work with after last year. We've sent in water samples that are coming back unusable.
Billings/Stark: Severely Dry. Corn and Soybeans have completely run out of water. Severe firing in corn occurring. Soybeans aborting pods. Stock dams are drying up.
Hettinger: Eastern part of the county moderately dry, western part of the county mildly dry. Very little green left in standing grass . I have tested 9 samples of water in the last 2 weeks and 3 of them proved unusable. Corn yields have been drastically reduced and sunflower height has shortened due to moisture reduction. Any grass that had any height was cut.
9: South-East
LaMoure. Moderately Dry. Pastures and fields are drying up fast. Regrowth is slow.
Logan: Moderately Dry. Soybeans are showing a lot of stress, and pods are not filling. Corn is showing stress. Pastures are stressed.

21. Agricultural Impacts (Select Photos)
Eddy County (T. Becker, NDSU)
Eddy County (T. Becker, NDSU)

22. Agricultural Impacts (Select Photos)
Mercer County (G. Askim, NDSU)
McHenry County (R. Wald, NDSU)