Page 38 - Logan County Farm Outlook - Spring 2013
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2013 LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com March 21, 2013
38
T
he National Drought Early
Warning Outlook is coordinated
by the United States Department
of Agriculture and the National Oceanic
and Atmosphere Administration.
According to the outlook, drought
conditions continue to exist over much
of the U.S.
While there has been a
slight improvement since fall
2012, drought conditions are
still serious, with 67 percent
of the states remaining at the
most intense measurement of
D4, exceptional drought. The
primary area coversmost of the
central portion of the country,
beginning west of Illinois.
As of Feb. 21, portions of the western
edge of Illinois and upper northwest
Illinois were still in drought, but
improving.
In a three-month outlook starting Feb.
21, while there may be slight recovery,
drought is expected to persist and
possibly worsen over much of the most
serious drought areas in the U.S.
March, April and May are forecast to
bring above-normal temperatures for
most of the nation, including Illinois, with
above-normal rainfall anticipated for the
Great Lakes region and surrounding
states.
For those who prefer the old ways, or
maybe some entertainment value with
their forecast, the Farmers’ Almanac
is another way to get your forecast.
Printed since 1818, the publication
features weather, but is also chock-
full of other useful information, humor,
advice, trivia and helpful tips. (http://
/)
A quick look at the Farmers’ Almanac
two-month forecast starting
March 4 suggests the same
precipitation as NOAA is
forecasting: a wet period.
Temperatures are not provided.
Released
annually
in
September,
the
Farmers’
Almanac offers 16 months of
weather predictions made as
far out as two years in advance.
The publishers explain that they
use a “top secret mathematical and
astronomical formula, that relies on
sunspot activity, tidal action, planetary
position and many other factors.”
Their readers and purported
independent studies of their forecasts
claim 80-85 percent accuracy.
And here’s a look at the weather
