Snowstorm Doesn’t Change Drought Conditions
Left, local agricultural officials say the drought effects on crops can’t be determined until the first harvest of 2013. (stock photo)
For the City-Times
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, recent snowfalls haven’t improved local drought conditions.
According to data released Thursday, the 6.5 inches of snow Central Wisconsin received before Christmas did nothing to change the stage of drought that began over the summer, when the usual rain totals fell six inches short of the norm- an average of 32 inches.
Stevens Point nearly all of Portage County is still classified as “abnormally dry”, with counties to the east fairing better. The drought monitor shows 88 percent of the state is still classified in some stage of drought.
The state drought map is here.
According to the National Drought Summary, “with long-term deficits of several inches (of precipitation), little change was made to drought conditions statewide.”