Join us for a #webinar about the U.S. Drought Monitor this Thursday, May 1.
Participants will learn more about the USDM process, how they can contribute, what programs the USDM triggers, and how state assessment teams can coordinate input to the USDM authors. You will also have a chance to ask questions and provide feedback to USDM authors.
Register today: https://go.unl.edu/usdm-workshop-may-1-2025
Yet another dust storm over the southeast half of New Mexico, far west Texas, the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma panhandle, extending into Colorado and Kansas.
The dust is coming from prehistoric lake beds in northern Chihuahua, Mexico:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Palomas
"Presently its basin is a major source of airborne dust in the region."
With the severe drought conditions in this region, it takes far weaker winds to create these dust storms compared to previous decades. Visibility at my house is less than 1/2 mile.
Note that the dust is tan, but that the gypsum dust from White Sands is paler. A fire is burning in northeast Sonora, Mexico...the smoke plume is bluish. A fire develops in central New Mexico (Rio Grande valley, town of Socorro) at the end of the animation loop. https://app.watchduty.org/i/47153
a fresh summer breeze
searching for a moist cool zone
where rain kisses sky
#dailyhaikuprompt fresh breeze
#MastoPrompt zone
"Several U.S. regional climate centers shut down Thursday — including those in the Midwest, Great Plains and South.
Those three centers are responsible for collecting weather data across 21 states, as well as sharing drought conditions and other online tools. But their operations ceased at midnight on Thursday due to a lapse in federal funding..."
https://www.stlpr.org/2025-04-18/regional-climate-centers-shut-down-abruptly
Oklahoma | U.S. Drought Monitor | April 24, 2025
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?OK
A severe & prolonged #drought persists in #Africa, affecting the #environment, economies & societies across the continent. Various regions experience lower #agriculture production, crop #yields & food security: joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and... #foodsecurity
Severe drought in Africa persi...
7 acres is nothing compared to TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES!
Teen charged with allegedly starting massive #NewJersey #wildfire
By Jon Haworth and Bill Hutchinson Thursday, April 24, 2025
"A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a massive New Jersey wildfire that has consumed 13,000 acres and continued to burn Thursday, authorities said.
"In a statement released Thursday morning, New Jersey officials including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, announced the arrest of Joseph Kling of Waretown, New Jersey, on charges of aggravated arson and arson in connection with the wildfire that started Tuesday morning.
"The fire was first spotted about 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday in the Greenwood Wildlife Management area near Waretown, New Jersey, officials said.
"Officials said investigators tracked the origin of the fire to Waretown.
"Further investigation has revealed that Kling was the individual responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire -- and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished," officials said in the statement.
#Kling was taken into custody at Ocean Township Police Headquarters in Waretown, officials said.
"He was booked at the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
"The #JonesRoadWildfire continued to burn on Thursday. The fire has burned at least 13,250 acres and is 50% contained, according to the Fire Service.
"Winds are expected to blow smoke into the New York City area.
"The fire is expected to grow as dry conditions, winds, and low humidity aid the aid the blaze's activity, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service."
Oh no! 7 acres burned!!!! One of my favorite places! What idiot has a campfire during a drought and wildfire warnings?!!
Improperly extinguished campfire sparks 7-acre brush fire in #ScarboroughMarsh
by Julia Simone, Matthew Bourgault and Ariana St Pierre, WGME
Thu, April 24th 2025 at 1:58 PM
SCARBOROUGH (WGME) -- "Scarborough firefighters say a campfire that was not extinguished properly sparked a seven-acre brush fire near homes and railroad tracks on the Scarborough marsh Thursday afternoon.
"The fire, which is now out, brought a major response from firefighters, including from the Maine Forest Service, which used a helicopter and water from the marsh to douse the flames.
"Scarborough Fire Chief Rich Kindelan says Maine Forest Rangers are currently looking into what started the fire, but for now, the cause is still unknown."
Florida has been drier than usual over the past few weeks, driving widespread drought expansion in the state. This week, much the state has also been seeing slightly warmer-than-normal temperatures.
These warm and dry conditions are contributing to wildfires across the state. As of April 24, there were 89 wildfires in Florida burning over 2,854 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service. There are currently burn bans in 16 counties.
Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos
Mapa publicado: abril 24, 2025
The April Dry Horizons roundup of drought news and research is now available. Read more on our website. https://drought.unl.edu/Publications/DryHorizons.aspx
How dry or wet are your local conditions? Share reports to CMOR: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
Degradations occurred in parts of the Southeast. Improvements occurred across parts of New Hampshire and Alaska. The Midwest also saw improvements, with degradations in Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. Mixed conditions occurred in parts of the High Plains and West, plus Hawaii.
See more change maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/ChangeMaps.aspx
US Drought Monitor 4-24-25
For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 32.9% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 32.56% last week.
Does the dust bowl part come before or after the great depression part?
#Drought
Rural Response Hotline fielding more calls from farmers worried about finances, drought
"Since the 1980s farm crisis, the hotline has been a wide-ranging resource for ag families when it comes to issues such as mental health assistance, natural disasters, family problems or financial distress."
In the April 2025 edition of Dry Horizons:
El Paso facility will use novel purification to help ‘drought-proof’ water supply Delaware Climate Office unveils website to track drought conditions Drought among the causes for bird population losses in the Midwest
Dry Horizons is a monthly roundup of drought research and news.
Read more: https://mailchi.mp/unl.edu/dry-horizons-april-2025
Worrying sight out at some of my old study sites. It's been an incredibly dry summer/autumn and I'm seeing quite a lot of mortality of Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia). This species is already suffering recruitment pressures from seed predation and small population sizes but could extreme drought events like this be another nail in the coffin for these populations? #botany #ClimateChange #drought #ecology
This week’s CMOR photo is from Morton County, #Kansas.
“Starting to get dry, but not unusually dry. Had great moisture in November that is carrying us through. Green wheat looks fantastic. Most native grass is breaking dormancy, most trees and shrubs are leafed out or beginning. All we need is a good rain and everything will be great for crops and wildlife. Pheasants in the ditches and bobwhites whistling.”
Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
