The latest 7-day QPF map shows virtually no rain across the region in the next week. This is likely to cause increases in the amount of drought that will be shown on next week’s Drought Monitor. It also means that crops that still need moisture will not get any relief. Those who are planting winter grains and forage may have a tough time getting enough soil moisture for the seeds to germinate. What is more is that the longer-term forecasts out to the first week of November show a similar pattern, with only light amounts of precipitation expected in the next few weeks. This means that October could be a completely dry month for a number of stations in the region, which could set records in some areas for the driest month ever.
