Claremore Daily Progress

Top Stories

July 16, 2012

U.S. drought grows to cover widest area since 1956

Steve Karnowski Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — The drought gripping the United States is the widest since 1956, according to new data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Fifty-five percent of the continental U.S. was in a moderate to extreme drought by the end of June, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., said in its monthly State of the Climate drought report. That’s the largest percentage since December 1956, when 58 percent of the country was covered by drought.

This summer, 80 percent of the U.S. is abnormally dry, and the report said the drought expanded in the West, Great Plains and Midwest last month with the 14th warmest and 10th driest June on record.

The nation’s corn and soybean belt has been especially hard hit over the past three months, the report said. That region has experienced its seventh warmest and 10th driest April-to-June period.

“Topsoil has dried out and crops, pastures and rangeland have deteriorated at a rate rarely seen in the last 18 years,” the report said.

The report is based on a data set going back to 1895 called the Palmer Drought Index, which feeds into the widely watched and more detailed U.S. Drought Monitor. It reported last week that 61 percent of the continental U.S. was in a moderate to exceptional drought. However, the weekly Drought Monitor goes back only 12 years, so climatologists use the Palmer Drought Index for comparing droughts before 2000.

In southern Illinois’ Effingham County, Kenny Brummer is facing a double whammy — the drought has savaged the 800 acres of corn he grows for his 400 head of cattle and some 30,000 hogs, leaving him scrambling to find the couple of hundred thousand bushels of feed he’ll need.

“Where am I going to get that from? You have concerns about it every morning when you wake up,” Brummer, 59, said Monday. “The drought is bad, but that’s just half of the problem on this farm.”

 

Text Only
Top Stories
  • Power in working together:

    Executive Director of Zoe Institute Rhonda Clemons-Hill spoke to Claremore Chamber of Commerce members Thursday about Northeastern Oklahoma Regional Alliance, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to leveraging resources between Northeast Oklahoma communities, implementing regional plans for growth and prosperity.

    May 25, 2013

  • OKLAHOMA FLAGS244.jpg Flags become symbols of hope, unity in tornado-damaged Oklahoma

    The first thing Kevin Gibson did after returning to his house, torn apart by a powerful tornado Monday, was pull an American flag and a temporary flagpole from the corner of his partially standing garage.

    May 25, 2013 2 Photos

  • Oklahoma Tornado Expert: Schools need shelters

    Ninety-four percent of Oklahoma schools do not have tornado shelters, according to Gov. Mary Fallin, even though at least one weather expert says they should be standard. With two Moore schools destroyed in Monday’s EF-5 tornado — and ...

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • Early warning system County implements early warning system

    With stark images of people recovering from the massive tornado in Moore, Rogers County residents now have the ability to receive emergency alerts through a new electronic early warning system.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • Special city council meeting called to discuss placing city manager on administrative leave

    Mayor Doug Bonebrake has called a special meeting of the Owasso City Council for 4 p.m. Friday in the council chambers at Old Central, 109 N. Birch.

    May 23, 2013

  • Residents return Residents return to devastated homes

    Sparks of joy lit up grief-stricken eyes from time to time on Wednesday after Moore residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods for the first time after Monday’s EF-5 tornado devastated much of the city.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • preview4.jpg TIMELAPSE: Take a tour through the damage in Moore

    Take a driving tour of the damage in Moore caused by Monday's tornado.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • CORRECTION: Claremore hosts dump day June 1

    The City of Claremore will host a dump day for residents from 8 a.m. to noon on June 1 at several locations.

    May 23, 2013

  • Thunderstorms slow tornado cleanup

    A band of thunderstorms battered the Oklahoma City area Thursday, slowing cleanup operations in the suburb where a tornado killed 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes this week.

    May 23, 2013

  • Moore T-Shirt Verdigris Elementary student brings hope to Moore survivors

    After watching the news about Monday’s devastating EF-5 tornado in Moore, 11-year-old Holly Morgan,  of Verdigris, thought of a way to raise funds for disaster relief. Morgan drew a picture and asked her mother to help recreate the design to print on a T-shirt.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

Poll

Over the past two weeks the price of a gallon of gas has jumped more than 20 cents. As of Wednesday, it cost 3.64. What do you attribute the sudden rise in cost?

Refineries changing blends
Holiday approaching
World markets
Don't know
     View Results
Featured Ads
AP Video
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested