Missouri Drought Assessment Committee reconvenes as dry conditions persist
After initially concluding Missouri’s drought alert earlier this year, the Drought Assessment Committee met on Wednesday afternoon in response to rapid drought development in Mid-Missouri. Governor Mike Parson signed an executive order on May 31st to establish a drought alert across 60 Missouri counties, also directing the committee to meet and discuss mitigation strategies. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the University of Missouri, the National Weather Service, and several other agencies presented an updated drought assessment plan, the most cohesive update since 2002. This new action plan is intended to tackle drought in more flexible ways than before, by differentiating between hydrological, meteorological, agricultural, and other types of drought.
Currently, 3 million Missourians are experiencing drought conditions, now up to 71 counties since the order was signed. Within the past 60 days, the state has averaged less than 4 inches of rainfall, half of the typical 8 inches Missouri would expect for late spring. We also experienced the driest May since 1988. This has resulted in 80% of the state currently being impacted by dry conditions, compared to zero percent at this same time last year. The climatological outlook for the summertime is somewhat promising as above-average rainfall is expected in the Mid-Mississippi Valley from June to August. The committee did note, however, that drought is expected to worsen through at least late June.
Record low river flow has also been observed across 40% of Missouri waterways, though commercial water travel has not yet been impacted. A subcommittee for commercial navigation intends to convene this summer should impacts become more concerning.
Strategies discussed included farmer aid for more affordable crops, lessening restrictions on travel load for hay, and bulk water use to reduce waste. The committee intends to meet again in early to mid-July to further assess the drought and make updated plans.
