Drought has entered the conversation in recent weeks, but Nutrien Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass isn’t concerned yet. “Heat and dryness in May and June, not typically something to be too worried about as long as it doesn’t continue into late June or into July,” said Snodgrass. “Then we have to start worrying.” A recently released seasonal drought outlook has projected drought development across portions of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, but Snodgrass is questioning that data. “They put much of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest into a drought development likely category, and it’s got a lot of us meteorologists scratching our heads,” said Snodgrass. “I actually think that corridor gets pretty stormy by the time we get into the month of July.” Snodgrass urged producers to be cautious about placing too much emphasis on long-range outlooks while weather patterns associated with El Niño continue to evolve.
