Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

India In Growing Need Of Rain As Reproduction Nears

Kansas City, January 26 (World Weather Inc.) – Western and northern India have trended much drier than normal in recent months and is in need of rain. Winter grains, oilseeds, pulses, and other crops must have a good moisture source either from irrigation or timely rain to yield well and that may not be the case right now. Dryland crops may have developed unevenly or poorly and production potential may be lower than normal this season without a significant improvement in rainfall during the next few weeks. Irrigated crops have grown under more favorable conditions, though there is still need timely rain. Many areas in central, southern, and eastern India have also dried down this month and are in a growing need of rain. Below average precipitation will persist for much of the country in the next week to ten days and possibly during much of February during reproduction.

Western U.S. Snowpack Update; Greater Snowfall Needed

Kansas City, January 25 (World Weather Inc.) – Snow water equivalent levels are below average across much of the western U.S. mountain ranges. Reservoir levels in California are presently near historical normal levels, though reservoirs in the Pacific Northwest are skewing low, particularly in the Yakima Valley. In the next 7-days, between 1.00 and 2.50 inches of moisture will accumulate around the Sierra Nevada, 2.50 to 4.00 inches in the Washington Cascades and 0.30 to 0.90 inch in much of the Northern Rocky Mountains. While these amounts will be welcome, more precipitation will be needed in coming weeks to either replenish or maintain reservoir levels in anticipation of spring planting in late March.

South Africa Summer Crop Areas Drying Down

Kansas City, January 25 (World Weather Inc.) – Many areas in Free State and North West lost a significant amount of soil moisture during the past week due to a lack of rain and gradual warming trend. Deep-rooted crops were still able to draw moisture from subsoil levels, though the need for timely rain is increasing. The region will only have a few opportunities for spotty rain during the coming week with warm daytime temperatures resulting in additional aggressive drying. Development rates may slow and crops may be stressed in the driest fields. The need for timely rain will be high during the first half of February to ensure favorable yield potentials. Eastern South Africa has ample moisture and will see a good mix of rain and sunshine during the coming week to support crops favorably.

Queensland, Australia Crops To Benefit From Cyclone Kirrily

Kansas City, January 25 (World Weather Inc.) – Tropical Cyclone Kirrily made landfall over northeastern Queensland, Australia earlier today with some damaging wind speeds and heavy rainfall. Power outages were noted with some stressful conditions were suspected to livestock and sugarcane. The center of the disturbance will slowly meander across Queensland in coming days before eventually making its way into Northern Territory and potentially northern Western Australia later this weekend and next week. The storm’s convection, though, will spread across a large section of Queensland and northeastern New South Wales bringing welcome moisture to key sorghum, cotton and other important crop areas. Rainfall will significantly bolster soil moisture and may promote flash flooding in some of central Queensland’s agricultural region. Minor damage is expected away from the coast where landfall takes place while most of the impact will be beneficial and welcome with unirrigated crop benefiting most significantly.