Even Rainforests Get Dry

 During her summer travels across the Pacific Northwest, South Carolina CoCoRaHS observer, Sally McGuire took this picture of a rain gauge at Lake Quinault in Olympic National Forest. This area is known as a temperate rainforest and therefore receives LOTS of rain.  In fact, rain is measured in feet rather than inches!  Bu as you can see, even this rainy region is experiencing dry conditions just like many places in the Western US.  This week’s US Drought Monitor shows much of Washington in D0, D1 or D2 status.  Lake Quinault, located in the Northwest corner of the state, is abnormally dry.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, July 21st-27th - Madison County, NC

 The Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on July 26th by observer with station number NC-MS-5.  In their report, they described the multiple impacts of recent weather conditions on local plant growth, water levels, tourism and animal activity.  Their report shows that you don't have to go very far to observe the direct and indirect affects of weather.  It just takes a little extra attention to the environment and thinking about how weather plays a role in what you observe.  Thanks for setting a great example NC-MS-5!  Keep up the good work!
 
Categories:
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism 
Water Quality and Water Levels

This week we've seen rain nearly every day until today, but 3 days just a few hundredths or a trace. So plants are all growing well--grass, garden veggies, flowers. I spotted the first woodland orchid of the year--about a week earlier than last year. The French Broad River is muddy & running about medium high. There was a lot of rain upstream. It makes for good boating. I've noted several kayakers, as well as commercial raft trips. We've seen a couple fawns and have heard from others in our county that fawns are being born. Our spring (drinking water), pond, microhydro system, and creek all remain at a good level.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week for July 14th - 20th, Richland County, SC

Our Monitoring Star of the Week for July 14th through the 20th was posted by observer SC-RC-12 in Richland County, SC.  This report was chosen because the observer noted how cooler temperatures and increased moisture broke a recent dry spell and how it affected grass and the observer's watering routine.  In our last post, we asked observers to record how the current cold front is affecting local ecosystems and communities. This report does just that!  We want to encourage everyone to be aware of how the increased moisture forecasted for this week impacts your yards and neighborhoods. How are animals, plants, people, businesses etc. responding this temporary relief from dry conditions?  Keep the great reports coming.  Good job SC-RC-12!

Categories:
Plants and Wildlife

Got a quarter inch of rain this week after 2 weeks of virtually nothing. Highs "only" in the 80s also helped. Greened up the grass a bit and allowed us to back off watering plants in pots.

Cold Front Moving Through the Carolinas!

The cold front hitting the Eastern U.S. this week through the latter part of next week may bring much needed rain to parts of the Carolinas.  This is a great time for condition monitoring because your reports may allow us to better understand how ecosystems and communities respond to temporary relief from dry conditions and unseasonably cool temperatures during summer months. So be on the lookout for ways to enhance your reports with information that link the current cold front with your local environment. We look forward to reading your reports!

Condition Monitoriing Star of the Week, July 7th-13th - Caswell County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number NC-CS-1 in Caswell County, NC.  We chose this report because it thoroughly captures the increasing dryness experienced by residents of Caswell County.  The observer also did wonderful job of noting conditions around their community that included plants and wildlife, water levels, agriculture and recreation!  Including these multiple categories of impacts increase the meaningfulness and usefulness of condition monitoring reports. High five NC-CS-1!  Impressive!

 Categories:
Agriculture 
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation
Water Supply and Quality

"The week began with dire news - farmers were saying crops were in danger of being a "disaster" if rain did not come soon. But mercifully .83" fell during the middle of the week. The lake level is still slightly below normal. But there are still many boaters enjoying the water. Shrubs and some young trees around my yard were showing signs of distress but have rebounded. The tomatoes have enjoyed the warm nights and are vigorously growing. Blight has been reported on potatoes in the eastern part of the state and on tomatoes in the west. Fortunately it has bypassed this area. Birds are not visiting the feeders as often, the babies are on their own. Annuals are in still blooming beautifully but it's now a lull between early summer bloomers and late summer / fall blooming perennials. A few more butterflies are in the yard, bees are busy pollinating our flowers. Looking forward to the promised cooler temperatures next week".

Dryness Increasing in the Southeast

The U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly drought summary for the Southeast indicated increased dryness in areas of  North Carolina and South Carolina. 

USDM Drought Summary Post July 8th, 2014
30-day PNPs, and declining soil moisture and pasture conditions suggest the early stages of a developing flash drought in this region. The AHPS 30-day PNPs reveal a long, broad swath of 50-percent of normal rainfall from the Florida Panhandle to the Delmarva Peninsula, with values ranging from 25 to 75 percent of normal. Forty-two percent of the state of Georgia reported Short or Very Short Topsoil Moisture, with North Carolina reporting 38 percent, South Carolina 60 percent, and Florida 17 percent. The extent of Subsoil Short or Very Short Moisture is 32 percent in both Georgia and North Carolina, 56 percent in South Carolina, and 16 percent in Florida. Pasture conditions are declining as well, with now just 40 percent rated Good to Excellent in South Carolina, and 50-60 percent in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, and Kentucky. 

Based on these indicators, and low stream flows (lowest quartile of historical distribution), abnormal dryness (D0) was added to the drought depiction in the westernmost counties of South Carolina, as well as a sizable portion of eastern South Carolina. D0 was also expanded in central North Carolina (which largely missed out on the heavy rainfall associated with an unusually strong cold front and Hurricane Arthur this past week), and north-central Georgia. 

 In southeast Alabama, D0 was added to the counties of Coffee, Dale, Henry, Barbour, Geneva, and Houston, based on similar indications for the other Southeastern states. According to the National Weather Service’s Southeast River Forecast Center, the southern part of the Chattahoochee River at the W.F. George Lake and Dam (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) has a current (July 9) river stage of 101.99 feet, far below the nominal flood stage value of 134 feet. In addition, D0 was also introduced to portions of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north-central Alabama.