1. State Climate Office Weekly Drought Update
Adnan Akyuz, Ph.D.
NDSU, AES
State Climatologist
Updated 8/22/2019

2. US Drought Monitor

3. Divisional Precipitation Anomalies and Rankings (Last Month)
July 2019 (Statewide: 23rd Wettest)
July 2019 Ranking Table by Crop Districts
Negative numbers indicate drier than long-term ( ) average.
Lower rankings indicate historically drier conditions on record (125 years total).

4. Divisional Precipitation Anomalies and Rankings (Last 3 Months)
May-July 2019 (Satewide:62nd Driest)
May-July 2019 Ranking Table by Crop Districts
Negative numbers indicate drier than long-term ( ) average.
Lower rankings indicate historically drier conditions on record (125 years total).

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

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

7. (% Change from previous week)
Cumulative % area
(% Change from previous week) DO
27%
(-2%) D1 7%
(0%) D2 1%
(0%)
None
73%
(+2%)

8. Drought Change
1-week Change
4-week Change

9. State Coverage and Intensity

10. Drought Severity and Coverage Index (Statewide)
295
(Aug 8, 2017)
329
(Aug 8, 2006) 34
(-2)
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

11. Accumulated Drought Severity and Coverage Index (Statewide)
512
10,642
19,319
9,530
9653
2116
11,991
1714
*Numbers indicate the area under the DSCI Index Curve
*Akyuz (2017)

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

13. Crassland Productivity Forecast (August)
*These three maps
show the forecasted percent change in grassland production compared to a county’s
34-year average.
USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub:

14. Corn GDD Accumulation Forecast*
Median First day of Fall Frost: Oct 9
Black Layer: Oct 4
Earliest First Day of Fall Frost: Sep 20
This graphic is created based on 90-day corn, planted in Cass county on May 15. It shows estimated date of maturity(Black Bar) with respect to hard freeze climatology (Blue Bars).
Latest First Day of Fall Frost: Nov 3
*U2U Decision Support Tools:

15. Weekly Drought Impact Collection Based on the NDSU Weekly Survey of Extension Offices
Williams (Clair Keene): Mildly Wet. Had 0.4" rain 8/10 and 0.3" 8/12. Rain will help 2nd cutting of forage not yet harvested but is interfering with harvest of small grains that dried down last week.
Divide (Brandon Biwer): Moderately Dry. Most areas in Divide Co. received significant rainfall this past week. Although it will have little effect on this year’s hay crop, warm season forage crops will benefit greatly.
Bottineau (Sara Clemens): Moderately Dry. Received some rainfall the past day and a half, but moisture is still lacking in soil profile.
Pierce (Yolanda Schmidt): Severely Dry. Corn and soybeans are still showing stress despite recent small rains, many pastures throughout the county are looking like golf courses
Benson (Scott) Moderately Dry: Some areas did get some much needed rain although it really is not helping pastures or hay crop at this time. Other parts of the county continue to get no rain and yields continue to diminish in corn and soybeans. Dry bean fields are ripening and the areas that did get a shower came too late to benefit the dry beans
McHenry (Rachel Wald): Moderately Dry

16. Weekly Drought Impact Collection Based on the NDSU Weekly Survey of Extension Offices
Ramsey (Bill): There is a small area near Devils Lake receiving rain while northern Ramsey is extremely dry
Walsh (Brad Brummond): Moderately Dry. We have got some slow rains the past few days. The damage is already done to the potatoes, dry beans, soybeans and wheat. I have heard rumors that potatoes are now being adjusted for yields by insurance agents. We may still have some chance for cover crop for fall gazing if we can get in early. the rains are welcome but too late for much of our crop. Rains came too late
Grand Forks (Carrie Knutson): Mildly Wet
Mercer (Craig Askim): Near Normal. Around 1 to 2.5 inches of rainfall over the last week. Conditions have improved as far as drought goes. Some hail was reported that damage crops in some areas of the county. Rainfall was to late to help hay yields however; so, hay is still in short supply. Conditions have improved for the time being.

17. Weekly Drought Impact Collection Based on the NDSU Weekly Survey of Extension Offices
Oliver (Rick Schmidt): Mildly Wet. We have had rain in many parts of the county in the past couple of weeks. Even though the amounts haven't been large, the grasses and crops are very green for August. Haying has been greatly delayed due to wet ground and high humidity. Much of the hay that has been cut in the last 3 weeks has gotten rained on and quality in diminished. Haying in now way behind normal.
Dunn (Greg Benz): Near Normal
Wells (Lindsay Maddock): Northern part of Wells Co. is mildly dry, central and southern Wells Co. is near normal.
Slope (Shelby): Mildly Wet.
Logan (Sheldon Gerhardt): Mildly Wet.

18. Drought Pictures
Very short pastures, this is uncharacteristic for this area (10mi north of Towner, McHenry County). These pastures have reached the end of their production and ranchers are looking at starting to feed their stock (feeding doesn’t usually start until Oct-November). Photo taken on August 6 by Andrea Lashman, FSA.
Soybeans showing drought stress near Maddock, Benson County. Photo taken on August 16, 2019 by Scott Knoke, NDSU.

19. 7-Day Forecast (Through noon Thu, Aug 29)

20. 14-Day Forecast (Through noon Thu, Sep 5)

21. Week 3 to 4 Forecast
Precipitation
Temperature

22. Fall (Sep-Nov) 2019 Outlook
Precipitation
Temperature