Snow melt, high precipitation erase signs of drought

Melting snow along with rain stemming from unseasonably warm weather has brought along enough precipitation to erase many of the marks left by last year’s drought.

The Indiana State Climate Office reported approximately 10 to 11 inches of accumulated rain and snow from Nov. 4 to Feb. 1 to help bring an end to drought conditions across southern Indiana.

Jackson County surpassed its average January rainfall with 4.62 inches. The average is 4.01 inches.

The precipitation will help farmers get through this spring’s planting season, Richard Beckort, Jackson County Purdue Extension Office executive director, said.

“There’s enough moisture to recharge the soil,” he said. “Heading in there’s enough moisture to get the crop up.”

But that’s as far as the predictions go, Beckort said. Even though most of the state has seen more than its share of precipitation, he said drought conditions still exist in northern Indiana and in areas west of the state.

“It doesn’t mean the moisture will last throughout the year,” he said. “It means at this time there is moisture.”

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