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Hot, dry pattern could lead to expanded drought

Dangerous heat is expected this week across the central U.S.

National Weather Service meteorologist Michelle Schuldt tells Brownfield…

“We have an upper ridge that is going to be impacting the area and little precipitation is expected,” she says.

Southwest Nebraska farmer Jan TenBensel says he’s optimistic his crops can manage this hot and dry period. 

“The irrigation management guys are concerned about sorghum stress right now and corn stress especially,” he says. “If we can get a rain within the next seven to 10 days, we’re going to be in good shape, but if we wait much longer, our dryland is really going to suffer greatly.”

Less than 20 percent of Nebraska is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. 

Assistant Kansas State Climatologist Matthew Sittel says he expects the hot dry pattern will extend through August.

“The longer range forecasts that go out to like three and four weeks say above normal temperatures, below normal precipitation,” he says. “If both of those things are realized, we’re certainly going to see expansion of the drought.”

Triple digit temperatures are expected across most of the region by mid-week. Fifty-eight percent of Kansas is experiencing at least moderate drought.