Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2022 - 7

Figure 3
Summer 2021 (Jun-Aug): Statewide Precipitation and Temperature Ranks, 1895-2021
Statewide Precipitation Ranks
June-August 2021
Period 1895-2021
17
10
16
27
37
42
106
42
121
33
26
104
118
89
110
91
90
118
118
127
126
118
50
113
National Centers for
Environmental
Information
Tue Sep 7, 2021
19
62
107
20
16
7
100
116
125
117
113
72
95
106
102
126
113
117
89
127
88
126
115
127
127
124
92
53
88
62
90
86
81
79
52
63
116
National Centers for
Environmental
Information
Tue Sep 7, 2021
99
120
47
126
124
111
127
127
125
124
112
126
125
126
121
123
112
98
100
115
110
116
96
65
122
121
121
122
125
123
125
Statewide Average Temperature Ranks
June-August 2021
Period 1895-2021
125
124
125
126
Record
Driest
(1)
Much
Below
Average
Below
Average
Source: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precep/us-maps
Near
Average
Above
Average
Much
Above
Average
Record
Wettest
(127)
Record
Coldest
(1)
Much
Below
Average
Below
Average
Near
Average
Above
Average
Much
Above
Average
Record
Warmest
(127)
time drought continued to persist in the western
part of the country. During April drought conditions
in the 11-state region increased from 74 to
85 percent, with 43 percent of the area experiencing
extreme to exceptional drought (D3 to D4).
Rains in May helped provide some relief to
the lingering drought, at least across the central
and southern Plains. However, the wet conditions
dampened the pace of winter wheat harvest.
The impact of the rain was limited in the
northern Plains and the Northwest, resulting in
a poor start to the growing season for crops such
as spring wheat and barley. In addition, much of
the rangeland and pasture continued to be poor
to very poor condition in a wide area including
North Dakota (67 percent) and Montana (56
percent), along with six western states - Arizona,
California, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and
Washington (from 50 to 88 percent).
By the end of spring above average precipitation
was recorded in the Midwest and Colorado.
Storms brought torrential rainfall to southwest
Louisiana, with more than 12 inches falling in
Lake Charles, which was still recovering from last
year's hurricanes Laura and Delta. This resulted
in much above average precipitation for the season
(Figure 2). Meanwhile spring temperatures
remained mostly above average to much above
average across the United States. The southwest
states, Louisiana, and Florida recorded much
above average temperatures during the spring
and near average temperatures were recorded
across the upper Plains, the Midwest and into
Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Summer 2021
A major story over the summer was continued
drought conditions in the Pacific Coast States
extending to parts of the Upper Midwest that
resulted in severe stress to pasture, rangeland,
and rain-fed crops. For example, as of August
29, over half of the rangeland and pastures were
rated poor to very poor in every state along and
northwest of a line from California to Minnesota.
Meanwhile small grains (wheat, spring wheat,
and barley) suffered from the drought as did corn
and soybeans in Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Drought conditions also contributed to another
devastating series of wildfires in the West, particularly
in northern region of California. Four of
the fires in northern California scorched approximately
1.6 million acres. Later season monsoon
rainfall help relieve dry conditions in the Southwest
and dampen wildfire impacts.
In contrast, mostly favorable growing conditions
were experienced in the South, with plentiful
rainfall and relatively cool temperatures
(Figure 3). However, tropical storm activity in
the region resulted in problems associated with
excess precipitation throughout the summer. In
June, tropical storm Claudette made landfall in
Louisiana, while tropical storm Danny crossed
the coast of South Carolina. In July, Hurricane
Elsa made landfall in Florida followed by tropical
storm Fred in mid-August. And, in late August,
tropical storm Henri struck Rhode Island. At end
of August, summer concluded with Category 4
Hurricane Ida, making landfall in southeastern
Louisiana.
The abundance of rainfall extended into the
Midwest mostly impacting the middle and eastern
Corn Belt. The high humidity, coupled with
warmer than normal nights, resulted in some
disease issues in the fields. The rainfall did not
arrive early enough to the northern Plains and
upper Midwest to benefit the drought stressed
small grains crops. Overall, the National Centers
for Environmental Information reported that the
United States experienced the hottest summer
during its 127-year history of record keeping. The
hot summer was accompanied by the eighth wettest
on record, and since the mid-20th century
only three others had been wetter-1992, 1993,
and 2004.
Fall 2021
Autumn began with a continuation of a tropical
storm season in September and October,
followed by a predominantly dry and warm November
(Figure 4). The tropical storm activity
was most disruptive in the middle Atlantic States
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https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precep/us-maps
Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2022

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