Ample rainfall has fallen over large swaths of the Plains and Midwest over the past week. How much impact did that precipitation make on areas of lingering drought or abnormal dryness? The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released October 12, offers some answers.

According to NOAA meteorologist Anthony Artusa, last week’s rains did in fact deliver some measurable drought relief. Here are his observations in some particular geographies:

Looking ahead, more rain in the forecast means an opportunity for more drought removal, Artusa says. 

“During the upcoming 5-day period (through October 16), a band of heavy rain is predicted from southeastern Iowa across Lower Michigan to extreme northern Maine, with similar totals anticipated over extreme southeastern Florida, and the Cascades of the Pacific Northwest,” he says. “One to two inches of rain is forecast over portions of the mid-Atlantic region. This raises the possibility of drought relief next week from the Midwest into northern Maine.”

Further out, through Oct. 21, Artusa says the odds are in favor of below-normal precipitation in the Great Plains, Ohio Valley and central Great Lakes regions, among other areas.

Drought Monitor

For more information, visit droughtmonitor.unl.edu.