Now is a slow time of year for the U.S. Drought Monitor. With January being the coldest month in Iowa, the soil profiles are usually too frozen to allow any moisture in. However, with these unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve been experiencing, there’s actually been a little bit of change to the drought monitor. Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan said it’s not much, but we’ll take what we can get at this point.
Before we got these warm temperatures, though, we had to persevere through frigid temps, with feels-like temperatures as low as -40. Glisan said this was the result of a bomb cyclone that blew out from the Great Lakes.
While the little bit of moisture that entered the soil was welcome, it wasn’t near enough compared to the moisture deficits. At this point, Glisan said we really need to see a wetter weather pattern.
To add insult to injury, we’re not just in a regular drought anymore. Glisan said we’re also experiencing a snow drought right now.
In the nearby forecast, Glisan said it looks like we’ll see colder temperatures and a potential for winter weather, which could help build up a strong snowpack.
Glisan said that, if we want to make any headway on those moisture deficits, we need to develop a strong and snowpack and get plenty of rain once the spring thaw comes around. A potential shift to an ENSO neutral weather pattern could help by providing wetter conditions this spring.
Glisan also provided a brief “year-in-review” for 2022.
For more information, visit https://iowaagriculture.gov/climatology-bureau.
Cold winter has given way to unseasonable warmth | Iowa … – Iowa Agribusiness Network
