This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor shows 58% of the U.S. winter wheat crop area is covered by drought conditions as of Dec. 21. That is five percentage points more than the previous week. USDA reported 18% of the winter wheat area is in moderate drought, 25% in severe drought, 12% in extreme drought and 3% in exceptional drought. Last week, the USDA reported 16% of winter wheat area was in moderate drought, 19% in severe drought, 13% in extreme drought and 6% in exceptional drought.
Kansas saw the largest increase, up 16 points from last week, to 68% of the state in abnormally dry/drought conditions. Nebraska, with 81% of the state facing moisture stress, increased five percentage points from the previous week.
Texas had a two-point increase to 84% of the state considered abnormally dry/drought. The Drought Monitor noted no measurable precipitation has been recorded at Amarillo, Texas, for 70 consecutive days, the fourth longest streak on record. Month-to-date temperatures (Dec 1-20) have also averaged six to 10 degrees F above normal throughout Texas.
Colorado and Montana remained 100% covered by abnormally dry/drought conditions. However, there was more than a 10-point decline in the area considered to be in exceptional drought in Montana. The area of extreme drought in Colorado increased three points over the past week.
Oklahoma reduced the amount of area covered by abnormal dry/drought conditions by six points to 90%, primarily due to improved conditions in eastern Oklahoma. However, severe conditions increased in the panhandle of Oklahoma.
SRW states of Missouri and Illinois saw slightly less area facing abnormally dry/drought conditions.