This week’s CMOR photo is from Meade County, South Dakota.

“We ranch in southern and central Meade County. It’s terribly dry and dusty. Lack of forage and low water for cattle.”

Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For March 22 – 29, 2025 #science #weather #climate #climatechange #drought #tornado

Infographic courtesy NOAA/National Weather Service Greetings to all and thanks for stopping by. The tornado and severe weather season is well underway with 2025 having already seen several substantial severe weather and tornado events. The bulk of the activity is yet to come. Your tornado safety information will be a focal point this week. As usual, there are several thought provoking science reads along with our weekly US Drought Monitor, so let’s get started.

http://tornadoquest.org/2025/03/29/tornado-quest-top-science-links-for-march-22-29-2025-science-weather-climate-climatechange-drought-tornado/

This is an interesting article, worth a full read, on an aspect of Climate not always talked about in much detail.

«… The drying out of soil “increases the severity and frequency” of major droughts …, explains Dr Benjamin Cook, an … Earth system scientist … “Droughts are one of the most impactful, expensive natural hazards out there, because they are typically persistent and long lasting. Everything needs water – ecosystems need water, agriculture needs water. People need water. If you don’t have enough water – you’re in trouble.” … The study points to two factors driving gradual depletion of soil moisture over the last quarter century: fluctuations to rainfall patterns and increasing “evaporative demand”. … the atmosphere’s “thirst” for water …»

When I read about these things, I think of the danger to the food system and human society. It saddens me beyond measure that we've got a society run by capitalists who, like locusts, just want to efficiently consume every last resource the planet has to offer with no apparent regard for the future.

The article also mentions it will be expensive, though. Does that matter to any of you capitalists? I know risk of societal collapse is not a worthy concern to you, just something to monetize. But it could affect prices along the way. Is THAT perhaps a concern, at least? Sigh.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-soil-moisture-in-permanent-decline-due-to-climate-change/

Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos

Mapa publicado: marzo 27, 2025

ICYMI: The March 2025 Dry Horizons roundup of drought research and news is now available. https://drought.unl.edu/Publications/DryHorizons.aspx

How dry or wet are your local conditions? Share reports to CMOR: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

See more change maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/ChangeMaps.aspx

US Drought Monitor 3-27-25

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 37.43% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 37.09% last week.

“The Anglos brought in pumps and motors. They think they can do better than all these poor people who’ve been here 20,000 years.”

From the archives in 2022: A century of enterprise and overuse has brought this historic river to the brink. https://www.texasobserver.org/rio-grande-water-drifting-toward-disaster/

In the March 2025 edition of Dry Horizons:
PhenoMap helps producers assess forage conditions
Report highlights joint efforts to address drought in California
Case study details water conservation wins in Colorado

Dry Horizons is a monthly roundup of drought research and news.

Read more: https://mailchi.mp/unl.edu/dry-horizons-march-2025

This week’s CMOR photo is from Goshen County, Wyoming.

“Rangeland is blowing and there is limited grass coming up.”

Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

Years of extreme droughts in the Amazon rainforest that studies have attributed to climate change have made river journeys to and from remote communities perilous. Pregnant women are bearing the brunt of the effects. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/03/21/amazon-midwives-drought/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #brazil #amazon #poverty #drought #climatechange #parenthood #women039sissues #children #pregnancy

Drought conditions have been worsening in the Southern Plains. Oklahoma has been experiencing wildfires, with four people killed and at least 200 injured this week. Some wildfires are also burning in adjacent areas of southern Kansas and the northern Texas Panhandle. (1/2)

Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos

Mapa publicado: marzo 20, 2025

Our Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch resource helps producers be more informed and prepared.

Learn more: https://drought.unl.edu/ranchplan/

How dry or wet are your local conditions? Share reports to CMOR: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

Much of the southern Great Plains saw degradations, while parts of the Midwest saw improvements. The West saw small areas of improvement, with areas of degradation in Montana, Colorado and New Mexico. Hawaii also had areas of improvement. The Northeast and Southeast experienced mixed conditions.

See more change maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/ChangeMaps.aspx

US Drought Monitor 3-20-25

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 37.09% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 36.54% last week.

Extreme weather last year including typhoons, heat waves and flooding led to the biggest displacement of people since 2008, and exacerbated a food crisis in more than a dozen countries, according to a report. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/03/19/climate-change/extreme-weather-2024-16-years/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #climatechange #drought #floods #typhoons #heatwaves