US Drought Monitor and Summary, April 25, 2017

Heavy rain in northern portions of the region contrasted with dry conditions closer to the Gulf Coast. A slow-moving storm system was responsible for 2 to 8 inches of rain from central Oklahoma east, resulting in widespread 1- and 2-category reductions in drought. Precipitation over the past 30 days has topped 10 inches (locally more than a foot) in northeastern Oklahoma. Additional heavy rainfall — on top of the rain that has already fallen after the Tuesday morning data cutoff— expected over the weekend (April 29-30) will likely necessitate further reductions in drought if the forecast verifies. Conditions remained largely unchanged across the Gulf Coast States, as near- to below-normal-temperatures accompanied this week’s generally dry weather. Read more at droughtmonitor.unl.edu…