Drought

A Bosque County judge declared a state of emergency due to extremely dry conditions and the high potential for grass fires. Outdoor burning and the sale and use of fireworks is prohibited.

Dry conditions have led to more communities adopting water conservation in the southeastern part of the state. Restrictions were in effect for Attleboro, North Attleboro, Foxboro, Mansfield, Norfolk, Norton, Plainville, Seekonk and Wrentham. Some of these towns have year-round water restrictions, while others enacted them due to drought. The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Mass.), June 26, 2022

Heat and drought were affecting crops in North Carolina. Cornfields in Union County are brown and withered, due to drought, while heat took a toll on the cornstalks, stated a farmer. He also noted that soybeans were difficult to plant for lack of moisture. The high price of fertilizer, liquid nitrogen and other farm chemicals added to farmers’ stress. WUNC (Chapel Hill, N.C.), June 27, 2022

Mormon crickets and grasshoppers abound again this year from Oregon to Montana to Arizona as drought and warming temperatures favor the outbreak. A chemical treatment can prevent the Mormon cricket nymphs from becoming adults if used early. In 2021, the Oregon Legislature allocated $5 million to evaluate the issue and create a suppression program. Another $1.2 million was approved for the program earlier this June. Associated Press News (New York), June 26, 2022

The lack of rain has kept watermelons from growing well in west central Louisiana. Fewer watermelons have been produced. KPLC (Lake Charles, La.), June 23, 2022

Drought in North Carolina’s Sandhills is limiting corn production. One farmer with land in Cumberland and Robeson counties expects to lose 50% of his corn to drought. Corn leaves turned brown before they were fully grown. Temperatures have been hot in recent weeks, and little to no rain has fallen. CBS17 (Raleigh, N.C.), June 21, 2022

Hay is not growing well in eastern Tennessee due to the lack of rain. WBIR (Knoxville, Tenn.), June 23, 2022

A dryland tobacco grower in Lenoir County fears losing his entire tobacco crop since little rain has fallen, and he prays for rain. He says that he needs two to three inches of rain to help the crop. NewsChannel 12 (New Bern, N.C.), June 21, 2022

The hot, dry June has parched crops in southern Indiana, and farmers are worried. The corn and bean crops are struggling, and some have already died. An insurance adjuster has zeroed out some corn in Posey County in extreme southwestern Indiana. Courier and Press (Evansville, Ind.), June 25, 2022

Burn bans were in effect for Mt. Juliet, Lebanon and Robertson County amid the intense heat and brushfires. WKRN (Nashville, Tenn.), June 23, 2022

The Cookeville Fire Department will not issue burn permits as the weather was too hot and dry. Herald-Citizen (Cookeville, Tenn.), June 24, 2022

The flow of the Frio River in Concan has dropped to zero cubic feet per second, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. At Garner State Park visitors cannot enjoy tubing due to the low levels and can swim only in certain parts of the river. Garner State Park issued a park alert, urging park visitors to conserve water and to bring their own drinking water. The use of showers may be limited. Extremely low river flows can let the water stagnate, causing algae blooms or harmful bacteria, so people recreating should be careful in such areas of the Frio River. The water will be tested by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality next week and the findings made available to the public. San Antonio Express-News (Texas), June 24, 2022

Prior Lake is lower than normal due to hot, dry weather. There is more beach than usual, and several parts of the lake are dangerously low, so boaters should avoid those spots. It’s dry in the Twin Cities, and the grass is brown. FOX 9 (Eden Prairie, Minn.), June 24, 2022

Caution is urged with fireworks in northeastern Nebraska, due to the dry conditions, recommended Columbus fire captain. Columbus Telegram (Neb.), June 23, 2022

Elwood canceled its Fourth of July fireworks show due to exceptionally dry conditions. The July 3rd fireworks show at Johnson Lake has been postponed until the weather and conditions improve. KSNB Local 4 (Hastings, Neb.), June 23, 2022

Low rainfall has caused weed problems to develop in some fields in Vigo and Parke counties because some chemicals in herbicides need rain to be effective. For late planted crops due to heavy spring rain, the lack of rain is limiting crop growth. MyWabashValley.com (Terre Haute, Ind.), June 23, 2022

A corn and sorghum grower in Nueces County anticipates getting just 25% of the yield that he would like from his corn, due to drought. Sixty percent of the cotton in Nueces County is not usable; 60% of corn in the county is “very poor,” and a lot of fields are in the 750 lb. range, although most sorghum fields yield 4,500-5,000 lbs. per acre. Rain cannot help the corn at this point. KRISTV NBC 6 Corpus Christi (Texas), June 23, 2022

Amid drought, when fires can spark more easily and be more difficult to contain, the San Jose Fire Department is understaffed and has expressed concern about being able to adequately respond to fires. Many calls have come in, which places heavy demand on the shrinking group of available firefighters. Firefighting is a stressful job, overtime can increase the strain, and burnout is a big concern. NBC Bay Area (San Jose, Calif.) June 23, 2022

Drought in the Carolinas has stunted the growth of corn, cotton and soybeans. Water levels were falling in streams, creeks and retention ponds. The fire risk is higher than normal. WMBF-TV NBC Myrtle Beach (S.C.), June 23, 2022

Seventeen counties in southeast Texas have burn bans in effect, due to the hot, dry weather. The counties include Fort Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Wharton, Jackson, Calhoun, Waller, Austin, Colorado, Grimes, Liberty, San Jacinto, Walker, Trinity and Polk. KTRK ABC 13(Houston, Texas), June 23, 2022