Drought

Central Illinois growers increased irrigation, managed well use carefully, and altered weed management to keep moisture in the soil. Sweet corn near Downs in McLean County was not growing as much as usual, and strawberries were tarter. NPR Illinois 91.9 (Springfield, Ill.), June 14, 2023

A farmer in north central South Dakota “lost their oats and some spring wheat due to the lack of rain. Getting too late for a rain to do any good on some ground. Some corn is getting very stressed. We are real close to disaster in Western Potter County.” KELOLAND Media Group (Sioux Falls, S.D.), June 15, 2023

Farmers and gardeners in the Michiana area were irrigating to keep strawberries and other crops alive and growing despite the lack of rain. ABC 57 WBND-TV South Bend News (Ind.), June 15, 2023

Vegetation was turning brown and was stressed across the Chicago area. Livestock were receiving supplemental feeding due to limited grazing. Farmers were worried about their parched crops. Drought conditions were the worst the area has experienced since the summer of 2012. Precipitation has been 25% of normal in the past 30 days, and rainfall looked to remain below normal in the next 10 days. NBC Chicago (Ill.), June 15, 2023

A strawberry grower in Ithaca irrigates his berries daily at an estimated cost of $1,000 per acre for the season, due to drought conditions. Spectrum News 1 NY (Syracuse, NY), June 15, 2023

Oats and barley in central and southeastern South Dakota were stunted from the lack of rain. Spring wheat was starting to head out prematurely. Soybeans were small in the northeastern part of the state. Farmers from Huron to Brookings were irrigating earlier than usual. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), June 15, 2023

Guemes Island has been overrun by Western Tent caterpillars as the seven-year life cycle peaks, leaving the creatures crawling on the ground, roads and everywhere else. Conditions are perfect for their numbers to increase quickly—there’s an absence of predators, warm, drought conditions and a lack of viruses that typically limit the population. The infestation should last a few weeks. "They go up your neck and in your pants and everything else," a local resident said, feeling kind of squeamish. "My own hair was freaking me out, so I had to get a haircut." KING TV 5 (Seattle, Wash.), June 15, 2023

Jacob’s Well remained very low with water just a few inches deep in contrast to normal flows when water would be waist deep. The swimming hole may stay closed all summer as the flow is very slow, which can allow bacteria to flourish. The well stopped flowing for the fifth time in its recorded history in July 2022. There is no record of the well ever stopping flowing before 2000, but since then, the flow has stopped five times. KUT News (Austin, Texas), June 14, 2023 Despite wet weather in April, Jacob’s Well remained too low to safely permit swimming, according to officials, who anticipate that the well will not recover and be safe for swimming for quite some time. The well went dry for the fourth time in its recorded history in July 2022 when almost 90% of Hays County was in extreme drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor. San Antonio Express-News Online (Texas), May 1, 2023 Jacob’s Well, a spring fed swimming hole, was closed because the well stopped flowing. The water depth was eleven inches. The Barton Creek Greenbelt ran dry in May. KXAN-TV NBC 36 Austin (Texas), July 8, 2022

The lack of rain has slowed corn growth in the Peoria area. Leaves were also curling. WEEK (East Peoria, Ill.), June 14, 2023

The Columbia Borough Council voted to ban fireworks in the borough from June 9 through July 9, with some exceptions. The ban was enacted due to the current drought and the Lancaster County burn ban. WHTM-TV 27 (Harrisburg, Pa.), June 14, 2023

This spring when Minnesota wildfire officials made mutual aid calls to wildfire agencies in Michigan and Wisconsin, everyone was busy fighting fires. Hot, dry weather in the Northeast and upper Midwest has increased the fire danger in those parts of the U.S. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), June 14, 2023

In Massachusetts, over 820 wildfires have already burned 1,500 acres, according to the chief fire warden for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Drought in 2022 and subsequent below average snowpack and rainfall were likely still driving the higher than normal fire activity. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), June 14, 2023

Drought conditions have delayed the opening of the renovated campground at Pikes Peak State Park in northeast Iowa. Precipitation was needed to get the grass growing and established. Department of Natural Resources (Des Moines, Iowa), June 13, 2023

Iowa has returned to the “Drought Watch” category as the state turned drier in April and May, making water conservation more important. Radio Iowa (Des Moines), June 9, 2023

Scammers were preying on Missouri farmers in need of hay and were seeking payment before delivering the hay, only to disappear with the funds. Missouri Net (Jefferson City, Mo.), June 14, 2023

Rhode Island had its largest wildfire since 1942 in April when a blaze charred hundreds of acres of forest. Hot, dry weather in the Northeast and upper Midwest has increased the fire danger in those parts of the U.S. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), June 14, 2023

Water from the Potomac River may have a different taste or odor after treatment due to the presence of algae, per WSSC Water. The water remains safe and meets EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The water contains more geosmin, which should return to normal levels when drought conditions ease. MyMCM (Rockville, Md.), June 14, 2023

The Energy and Environmental Affairs declared a Level 1 Mild Drought for Berkshire County and Cape Cod. More than two months of below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures led to the declaration. WWLP-22 News (Springfield, Mass.), June 13, 2023

Gov. Mike Parson announced “emergency” access to water and hay for farmers amid drought conditions in the state. Farmers in need of hay and water may get water from 25 state parks and 36 Missouri Department of Conservation areas and access hay from 17 state parks. The Missouri Department of Transportation is offering special overwidth hauling permits at no charge to help farmers and ranchers move hay. FOX 2 Online (St. Louis, Mo.), June 13, 2023

Parts of Nevada have been infested with Mormon crickets with the insects covering roads and vegetation in Elko. Leaf blowers, brooms and even a tractor with a blade were used to clear away the creatures. The insects eat vegetation and reduce available grazing for wildlife and livestock. Mormon crickets thrive in drought conditions. USA Today (McLean, Va.), June 13, 2023