Thursday drought update!

 

Here is a look At the current US drought monitor for the Northeast. Remember this shows the drought conditions for Tuesday the 23rd. So it doesn't show any of the rainfall that has fallen over the last couple of days.

This week's image.

Last week's image

The drought monitor shows 7% of the northeast in extreme drought 17% in severe drought 27% in moderate drought And 39% as abnormally dry This compares to 3% 20% 22% and 37% respectively last week.

Over the last 72 hours parts of the region has seen quite a bit of measurable rain. The rain today Look to bring the region a general Half an inch to a  inch of rain With some areas that see the thunderstorms Receiving 1" to perhaps 2" of overall rain.

The region has been dry for at least the last couple of months. Rainfall deficits Across the region are down quite significantly . So while any rain is good news, the sporadic nature of the rain of late won't do much to negate the drought conditions affecting the region.

Large parts of the region are under drought emergencies. Ground water and stream flow Levels are low. Many across the region are experiencing water shortages.

The precipitation outlooks from the climate protection center CPC, Show the region Returning to a dry pattern.

CPC is favoring the region being overall above average for the at least the next couple of weeks.

In my earlier Northeast regional weather update I was talking about Invest 94L And how it could become a hurricane and move into the Southeast United States. Whole the overall forecast for the tropical system is complex There is a chance this could come up the Coast and bring the Middle Atlantic and New England more rain.

The water prediction centers 7 day precipitation outlook.

It is still unclear How far north I-94L will come. It's possible it could come further north bringing more precipitation to a large part of the region or move north and east quicker than a model's indicate and head out to sea. The Madden Julian Oscillation is in a favorable orientation to facilitate more late season tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin. The tropical season will end on November 30th.So we have plenty of time to get more rain from these tropical events. Time will tell!