Improving Drought Conditions in US

After a dry summer, much of the United States is beginning to see relief as we enter the second half of autumn. According to Douglas Le Comte, drought specialist at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, “U.S. drought coverage has decreased from nearly 30 percent between mid-June and early August to about 20 percent now.” Drought severely affected the interior South this summer. Many of this hurricane season’s tropical systems have provided the south with much needed rainfall.

Here in State College, PA, we have seen a substantial change in conditions. During the beginning of the semester, all of the grass was dead and many of the trees were beginning to drop their leaves. Over the last few weeks, the region has seen a substantial change as precipitation has reached Happy Valley. As seen in NOAA’s U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, the Centre County area is still listed as having persisting drought conditions.



"NOAA: U.S. Drought Shows Signs of Improvement." National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. 18 September 2008.