Expert Predicts Another Hot, Dry Summer for Missouri
By: KODE/KSN - Joplin, MO
Updated: February 14, 2013
GOODMAN, Mo. -- Temperatures may only be in the 30's right now, but
experts say the Ozarks will suffer through another hot and dry summer.
An atmospheric researcher with the University Of Missouri Extension says farmer should prepare for another hot and dry summer.
And some farmers and avid gardeners are already doing things to be ready before the temperature heats up.
In Goodman, Missouri, Jo McLamore believes it's never too early to start preapring for the warmer months. And while her garden doesn't look like much now,
"You need to be thinking about all the time about stuff like that...do a little bit of preparation as you go along," she says.
And she has good reason to be proactive. Tony Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Missouri, released his summer outlook Wednesday.
"Temperatures will be at or above normal....the precipitation will be close to normal but a tad on the dry side," says Lupo.
This prediction is due to the earth's atmosphere not quite switching over to an el nino weather pattern in which we typically see more rainfall.
That's leaving gardeners and farmers worried about this summer.
So McLamore is taking precautions, spending nearly $300 on water lines to keep her berries, roses, and tomatoes hydrated.
"I've run water lines and rip lines, mulched,using cardboard, newspaper, wood-chips."
The precautions may be necessary, because even though forecasters are predicting a statistically normal rainfall, it may not be enough to recover from a drought.
"It takes awhile to get back out of it and we really need above normal precipitation to help us get out of that," says Lupo.
But any amount of rain brings McLamore at least a little bit of relief. "We need all the precipitation we can probably get, I'm thinking."
The United States Department of Agriculture says last year's drought affected nearly 80-percent of land in the four state area of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Jo McLamore says her biggest advice to other gardeners is to preserve water, cover plants from direct sunlight on hot days, and use plenty of mulch to keep soil moist.
An atmospheric researcher with the University Of Missouri Extension says farmer should prepare for another hot and dry summer.
And some farmers and avid gardeners are already doing things to be ready before the temperature heats up.
In Goodman, Missouri, Jo McLamore believes it's never too early to start preapring for the warmer months. And while her garden doesn't look like much now,
"You need to be thinking about all the time about stuff like that...do a little bit of preparation as you go along," she says.
And she has good reason to be proactive. Tony Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Missouri, released his summer outlook Wednesday.
"Temperatures will be at or above normal....the precipitation will be close to normal but a tad on the dry side," says Lupo.
This prediction is due to the earth's atmosphere not quite switching over to an el nino weather pattern in which we typically see more rainfall.
That's leaving gardeners and farmers worried about this summer.
So McLamore is taking precautions, spending nearly $300 on water lines to keep her berries, roses, and tomatoes hydrated.
"I've run water lines and rip lines, mulched,using cardboard, newspaper, wood-chips."
The precautions may be necessary, because even though forecasters are predicting a statistically normal rainfall, it may not be enough to recover from a drought.
"It takes awhile to get back out of it and we really need above normal precipitation to help us get out of that," says Lupo.
But any amount of rain brings McLamore at least a little bit of relief. "We need all the precipitation we can probably get, I'm thinking."
The United States Department of Agriculture says last year's drought affected nearly 80-percent of land in the four state area of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Jo McLamore says her biggest advice to other gardeners is to preserve water, cover plants from direct sunlight on hot days, and use plenty of mulch to keep soil moist.
