Drought — Polk, Missouri

2022-11-01 to 2022-11-30 · Polk, Missouri

Event narrative

Drought conditions improved across Morgan County by the end of November. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.

Wider weather episode

Extreme (D3) Drought conditions continued across portions of southwestern Missouri. Drought conditions saw some improvements across portions of the southwest Missouri Ozarks during the month of November. By the last week of November, the US Drought Monitor had designated around 34 percent of the area as being in moderate drought (D1) to significant drought (D4). Across the Ozarks, the month started with 23 counties in Severe Drought (D2) to Significant Drought (D4), by the end of the month 7 counties were in (D2) Severe drought or greater with Extreme Drought (D3) in 3 counties. The Significant Drought (D4) had improved falling to Extreme Drought (D3) by the end of the month across the Missouri Ozarks. The primary impacts of the drought continued to occurred in the agricultural communities. Hay growth was impacted along with reports of crop failures, dry stock ponds and low flows on some streams and rivers.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1065544. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.