Rains bring drought relief to Missouri
Most of Missouri has transitioned out of drought conditions for now, said University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zack Leasor.
Conditions took a turn for the better in April, he said. Statewide precipitation was 6.01 inches, 2.04 inches above the monthly average, making April 2024 Missouri’s 15th-wettest April back to 1895, based on preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Several locations in western Missouri received just over 10 inches of rainfall during April. At the end of April, year-to-date precipitation in Missouri was 12.87 inches, 1.58 inches above average. The wet and warm pattern has continued into the first half of May.
Soil moisture recharge and improvements to streamflow have been significant, Leasor said. On April 1, 58% of the U.S. Geological Survey monitoring gauges in the state recorded at least below-normal streamflow (< 25th percentile); that number dropped to 1% as of May 15.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson recently continued the state’s drought alert to Sept. 1, and Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee will continue to monitor conditions over the summer.
Photo: Thunderstorm over open fields (AI generated image)
