Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

More than Half of US in Drought

Conditions meet definition in 56% of continental US

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 5, 2012 7:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – Two stats of note to drive home just how hot it has been and continues to be:

  • Parched earth: Drought conditions now exist in 56% of the continental US, the biggest percentage in the 12 years that records have been kept by the weekly Drought Monitor, reports MSNBC. The heat already is taking a toll on crops.
  • Record heat: Across the US, more than 3,000 temperature records were broken from June 28 through yesterday, according to AccuWeather.com. They include record highs and maximum lows. One example: St. Louis' high of 105 on July Fourth.

John Rohlfing, 38, takes a drink as he works on the construction of his new home in North Aurora, Ill.
John Rohlfing, 38, takes a drink as he works on the construction of his new home in North Aurora, Ill.   (AP Photo/Robert Ray)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Check out another Scary story: Mystery Illness Kills 2 in Alabama
5%
Hilarious
5%
Intriguing
15%
Depressing
1%
Brilliant
70%
Scary
3%
Annoying
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
SanityPreservation
Jul 6, 2012 5:18 AM CDT
A historical perspective is needed here. Why don't you guys have a look at the Palmer Drought Severity Index regarding June-July 1934 and come back to us on that ? To quote NOAA "The most extensive national drought coverage during the past 100 years (the period of instrumental record) occurred in July 1934 when 80 percent of the contiguous United States was in moderate to extreme drought." How about them apples? Now stop scare mongering and do some proper journalistic fact checking please !
bubbahotep
Jul 5, 2012 11:30 PM CDT
The article is about the weather.  
bgensita
Jul 5, 2012 9:35 PM CDT
Ahhh the crazy leftists are hoarding all the water in underground storage tanks under the threw mile island so when the tea party, gop, and the whole lot of semi-retarded emus try to take over the government they can use it as leverage. My god, Jerry Sandusky was right!!!!
US

 
weather • drought • heat • temperatures

 
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne