IEM Daily Feature
Friday, 09 May 2014

Short Term Up, Long Term Down

Posted: 09 May 2014 05:37 AM

Drought conditions are very difficult to quantify as intense short term precipitation events can seem excessive, but not make up for long term deficits. The featured chart shows the 30, 90, and 365 day trailing departures of statewide averaged precipitation. The recent past has seen short term excesses while the long term has gone negative, how could that be? Last spring was the wettest spring on record for the state, so this spring has not been as wet. For the 365 day average, the extremely wet period from 2013 is being replaced by less wet conditions this year. As the window marches forward, this trend will likely continue.

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