A new growing season is underway and precipitation is again being fickle. The featured map presents IEM computed precipitation departures for May through the 18th based on NOAA MRMS estimates. The recently released US Drought Monitor is overlaid as well. A number of pockets of dryness are apparent with the worst conditions shown south of Ottumwa and near Omaha. Having dry weather this time of year can be good to allow spring field operations to complete, but this is also a time of the year when we should be getting substantial rainfall to recharge soil moisture. Additionally, newly germinated crops need to find moisture at shallow depths to support growth. The forecast for the next seven days looks very dry, so it appears drought will continue to be of great concern.

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