‘If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance …’ —Vilsack
U.S. drought intensifies as deadly heat plagues regions from Dakotas to Ohio Valley
‘Dangerous and deadly heat has entrenched itself in the central Plains and Midwest with no prospects of relief in the near future,’ said NOAA forecasters.
U.S. Weather Hazards Map, July 19, 2012. Source: NWS
- Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for parts of 10 states and into the weekend for parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
- Heat Advisories have been issued for parts of 19 states: South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island, NWS reported.
U.S. Daily Highest Max Temperature Records (July 17, 2012)
Highest Max Temp Reported
BURLINGTON 2S, DES MOINES, IA. New record: 107.0°F set on 2012-07-17; old record at 98.0°F dated 2006-07-17
Drought 2012
“If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”
USDA has now declared as primary disaster areas a total of about 1,300 counties [many other counties are designated as contiguous disaster areas ] across 29 states, as grain prices shoot through the roof due to deadly heat and unrelenting drought.
“I get on my knees everyday and I’m saying an extra prayer right now,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters after briefing with the Disaster President Obama. “If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”
Among nature’s extreme dislikes is the fact that more than 40 percent of the U.S. corn is used to produce ethanol.
Weekly drought statistics to be released by U.S. Drought Monitor later today could show more than two-thirds of Continental U.S. in drought condition.
By early July 2012, more than 60% of the contiguous United States was experiencing drought conditions, nearly double the area from early January. This NOAA animation shows monthly composites of D1 to D4 categories of drought in the contiguous U.S. over the time frame January 2012 to July 2012 using data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor summary map identifies general drought areas, labeling droughts by intensity, with D1 (lightest color) being the least intense and D4 (darkest color) being the most intense.
State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin
Governor Walker has declared a state of emergency in all 72 Wisconsin counties due to drought and abnormally dry conditions extending across most of the state.
“Wisconsin families, businesses and farmers are hurting as a result of this drought,” said Gov. Walker. “The increase in wildfires due to the combined lack of rain and high temperatures is adding to the risk of major economic losses, especially in agriculture. This is a time of crisis for many people, and we will utilize whatever resources are necessary to help.”
On July 10, Walker declared a state of emergency in 42 southern and central counties.
Latest Disaster Declarations by USDA
USDA has issued Disaster Declarations due to damage and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began in April 1, 2012, and continues in
- Missouri: A total of 105 counties declared as agricultural disaster areas.
- Arkansas: 5 counties
- Illinois: 9 counties
- Iowa: 10 counties
- Kansas: 10 counties
- Nebraska: 3 counties
- Oklahoma: 2 counties
USDA designated ten Counties in Wyoming as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- All other Wyoming counties that would be eligible under 7 CFR 759.5 (a), already have been designated as primary natural disaster counties.
USDA designated 16 Counties in Utah as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- Arizona. The designation also extends to 2 contiguous counties in Arizona.
USDA Designates 5 Counties in Tennessee agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- Arkansas. The designation also extends to 2 contiguous counties in Arkansas.
- Mississippi. Extends also to 2 counties in Mississippi.
USDA has designated 32 counties in Arkansas as agricultural natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- Mississippi. No. of counties are contiguous disaster areas: 4
- Tennessee. Counties declared contiguous disaster areas: 2
USDA has designated 5 counties in Georgia as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
USDA has designated 30 counties in Indiana as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
USDA has designated 10 counties in Mississippi as agricultural natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- All other Mississippi counties that would be eligible under 7 CFR 759.5 (a), already have been designated as primary natural disaster areas.
- Arkansas. Counties declared contiguous disaster areas: 3
USDA has designated 7 counties in New Mexico as agricultural natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
- Arizona. Counties declared as contiguous disaster areas: 1
Latest Available Maps of Agricultural Disaster Areas in the U.S.
Map of U.S. counties declared as agricultural disaster areas under ‘Streamlined Disaster Designation Process,’ as of July 12, 2012
PRIMARY & CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES designated for 2012 crop disaster losses – As of 07/10/2012 – through Designation No. S3260 (Approved 07/03/2012)
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
- Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). A massive wildfire has consumed/affected about 2,000 hectares on the volcanic island of Tenerife forcing the authorities to evacuate 1,800 inhabitants of the small town of Vilaflor, as well as the residents of another village nearby, reports said.
- Another large fire burned more than 500 hectares on the neighboring island of La Palma before it was brought under control on Tuesday, officials said.
Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Global CO2 emissions rose 3 percent to 34 billion tons, said a new EU report today.
- China emits 29 percent of global total (9.7 billion tons), while the U.S. is responsible for 16 percent (5.42 billion tons), the EU11 percent, India 6 percent, Russia 5 percent and Japan 4 percent, according to the report.
- Australia has the world’s largest per capita emissions at 19 tons, followed by the U.S. at 17.3 tons and Saudi Arabia at 16.5 tons per year.
- The report was released by EC’s Joint Research Center (JRC) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
Links to Recent Related Entries
- Another Heat Wave Grips America’s Heartland Posted July 18, 2012
- Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S.
- Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
- Disaster Declared in More Counties Across 11 States Posted July 13, 2012
- U.S. Drought Expands, Intensifies Posted July 12, 2012
- Drought Disaster Declared in 26 States Posted July 12, 2012
- Third of U.S. Corn in Poor or V. Poor Condition Posted on July 11, 2012
- Continental US Experienced Warmest 12 Months in 117 Years Posted on July 10, 2012
- Drought: State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin Posted on July 10, 2012
- U.S. Corn Belt Hit by Drought, Heat Wave Posted on July 9, 2012
- Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S. Posted on July 8, 2012
- Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
- Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012
- Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
- Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
- States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted on July 1, 2012
- Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
- The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
- Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
- Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
- Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
Fire Earth 