Drought

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 6, 2007) -- Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the last three weeks have brought beneficial rainfall to most of Kentucky, but have not eliminated the drought conditions over most of the state, according to state environmental officials.    » read more »

05 July 2007 -- A long drought and recent floods have intensified debate in Australia over climate change. Many Australians believe man's reliance on fossil fuels is warming the earth, while skeptics say it is all part of a natural cycle. Phil Mercer reports on Australia's climate change debate from a sheep farm near the outback town of Goulburn in New South Wales.    » read more »

07/05/2007 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has requested a federal designation of natural disaster for agriculture for all 95 counties in Tennessee to help farmers who have suffered crop and livestock losses as a result of extreme drought conditions. A designation from USDA would allow farmers to apply for low-interest emergency loans that could help them manage losses and plan for next year. Bredesen made the request in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.    » read more »

State wide precipitation above normal for month thanks to second half rainfall

July 6, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – The most outstanding feature of June weather was the change from very dry conditions the first 18 days to very wet ones the rest of the month. As a result, crops, lawns, and gardens recovered quickly from abnormally dry conditions that began in May.

Statewide June precipitation in Illinois was 4.47 inches (0.39 inches above normal), and statewide temperatures were 72.7°F degrees (0.8°F above normal).    » read more »

03 July 2007 -- U.N. agencies say that Mozambique is undergoing a severe drought. They say hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people will need increased humanitarian assistance over the coming months to help them survive until next year's harvest in April.

Mozambique has been lurching from one natural disaster to another. The current drought follows heavy flooding and a devastating cyclone earlier this year. Those disasters affected hundreds of thousands of people. Homes, crops and livelihoods were destroyed.    » read more »

July 02, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Monday expressed his gratitude to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns for designating all 67 counties in Alabama as natural disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. Governor Riley spoke with Secretary Johanns by phone earlier Monday and discussed the seriousness of the drought situation in Alabama. The Governor requested the disaster declaration in a letter to Secretary Johanns on June 7.    » read more »

June 28, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley is encouraging Alabamians to pray for rain.

The Governor has issued a proclamation declaring June 30 through July 7 as “Days of Prayer for Rain” in Alabama, and he is asking citizens to pray individually and in their houses of worship for rain.    » read more »

07/02/2007

Governor cautions Californians on heat, dry conditions over Fourth of July holiday

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued an executive order directing state agencies to help Angora Wildfire victims to begin clean up and restoration efforts. The Governor also called on Californians to be cautious over the Fourth of July holiday as the state experiences extremely high temperatures and dry conditions.    » read more »

June 29, 2007 -- PIERRE, S.D. – Drought conditions in southwestern South Dakota have forced the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue shutoff orders to approximately 31 junior water right permit holders along the Cheyenne River and its tributaries from Angostura Reservoir to the Belle Fourche River.

The decision to issue the shutoff orders came after Cheyenne River flows from Angostura to the Belle FourcheRiver confluence dropped to a level that maintaining water flow for domestic use, which includes livestock watering, had become a concern.    » read more »

June 28, 2007 -- Carson City – Much of the west experienced a lack of rain and snowfall this past winter resulting in an abundance of dry vegetation that burns rapidly. Subsequently, fire season has arrived early.

This week’s wind conditions coupled with dry vegetation have prompted Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and the Nevada Department of Forestry to place the following counties on Red Flag status for the corresponding days. Red Flag status is the highest risk for fire and is based on wind and fuel conditions.    » read more »

06/23/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today declared a State of Emergency in Kings County due to drought conditions. The Kings County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution requesting emergency status, citing low water tables, limited precipitation and reporting at least $1.2 million in crop damages due to drought conditions. On May 9, 2007, Kings County received a drought designation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).    » read more »

June 20, 2007 -- CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The heavy moisture from several substantial spring storms this year has been a mere drop in the bucket, state officials said today. Wyoming remains in a serious drought.

At a news conference in the Governor’s Formal Office, members of the Wyoming Drought Management Task Force emphasized that now is the time for conservation efforts for businesses, homeowners, gardeners and agricultural producers.    » read more »

Short-term impacts of dry weather minimal

June 6, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – May 2007 was the 8th warmest and 23rd driest May since 1895. Statewide May precipitation in Illinois was 2.62 inches (1.65 inches below normal), and statewide temperatures were 67.3°F degrees (4.5°F above normal). Fortunately, short-term impacts of the dry weather were minimal because of abundant soil moisture from rainfall in previous months. Timely and widespread rains across northern and central Illinois over the Memorial Day weekend also provided relief for shallow-rooted corn and soybeans in those areas.    » read more »

Asks Citizens Statewide To Voluntarily Conserve Water As Drought Worsens

5/31/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today expanded his water conservation directive to state agencies in 17 counties in western North Carolina that are in extreme or severe drought. He has directed that the agencies stop all non-essential water use. He has also asked other agencies, businesses and citizens across the state to voluntarily cut back their use by about 10 percent.    » read more »

$3B included in emergency appropriations bill for agriculture disaster relief

May 25, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. — Thanks to U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, help is on the way for Nevadans dealing with the effects of two devastating wildfire seasons. Nevada has suffered severe agricultural losses from floods, drought, and wildfires in the past two years.    » read more »