Dry conditions expand across the Midwest

The latest drought monitor was released Thursday morning from the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska and it shows the abnormally dry conditions expanding across Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
While some in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin have received rainfall in recent weeks there are still many locations that are lacking.  Even though the D0, or abnormally dry, rating is the lowest of a 5-tier indicator it's still cause for concern so early in the growing season.  Crops and plants need about an inch of rainfall a week now that the growing season has begun and unfortunately it doesn't appear as if we're going to get that.  While the corn crop may be okay in the short-term, the second crop hay and soybean crop could begin to suffer within the next couple weeks.  According to extension agents in Iowa and Missouri curling corn leaves, stunted or no root growth and soybean emergence problems along with cracks in the soil have been reported.

The extended outlook from the Climate Prediction Center as well as accumulated rainfall amounts from the Hyrdometeorological Prediction Center indicate dry conditions will likely continue.  Despite an abundance of rainfall in the south, we may be lucky to squeeze out an inch over he next week or so.  There is a chance for thunderstorms Monday with the passage of a cold front so it's possible heavier rain may fall with those in some locations but likely not all.  Once the front passes early Tuesday it appears as if we'll dry out once again next week.