Drought

[Clonefan94]

Not accurate at all. The atmosphere could recharge itself in a couple of days (or less) if the pattern change was dramatic enough. As far as Iowa goes the pattern doesn't look to make a significant pattern change though, so while you may see some rain it still doesn't look to be drought busting through the Fall.

Soil moisture could be the bigger concern that takes much longer to recharge, I'm not an expert here though so I'll let someone else answer. But, when you are down 10" of rain over the course of 3 months it is going to take more than just 10" to recharge the soil moisture, etc...

Cool, thanks, yeah, I understand the soil thing. Especially with what's happening here in the Chicago Burbs now. Things are definitely still dry as hell around my house even though we've gotten some significant rain over the last week. Hell, the pond in the nature center behind my house is still bone dry, and it's only ever dried up one other time in the 15 years I've lived in this house. And that wasn't until late August. It was dry by teh 4th of July this year.

It's been nice for keeping the mosquitos at by this year, but it's been too damn hot to enjoy sitting outside.

 

[SvrWxCy]

By the drought not ending until winter begins, do you mean close to normal precip this winter? That would at least be a start.

Should be back to near normal precipitation for the Winter... (Hopefully)

 

[CyForPresident]

Pardon my ignorance, but aren't those two sentences completely contradictory?

No, drought tolerance is a better term. Plants need some water no matter what.

 

[kingcy]

So to the farmers out there, even if we do start to get rain will it make a difference? If the corn has not pollenated by now can it catch up and still produce any meaningful harvest? Same with soybeans?

Rain will help all but the worse 15% of the corn and help 95% of the beans. We are running out of time on corn though. I have some that is starting to dent and the further along it goes the less rain will help it. Some corn has given up and no rain will help it.

If the corn isnt pollanated by now you have bigger issues to worry about than dryness.