Farms in the Eastern U.S. may be drought-free at least through September

Data provided by National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center

by Jeff Ishee

The most recent forecast provided by the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center indicates farms in most of the eastern U.S. should be free from drought at least through the end of September. This is significantly different from the situation two months ago when, on April 22, a large portion of the states of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and South Carolina were "abnormally dry" or in "moderate drought" conditions.

U.S. Drought Monitor for April 22, 2025 - Image Credit: National Drought Mitigation Center

Many farmers east of the Mississippi River were impacted by a relatively dry spring. Farms in Pennsylvania were significantly late planting corn and soybeans this year, while some farmers in Virginia and West Virginia were concerned about the first cutting of hay.

Things, however, turned around in early May as plentiful precipitation occurred throughout much of the Mid-Atlantic Region. For the period of April 23 through June 21, several counties in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia received above-average rainfall. Dangerous flooding in West Virginia claimed several lives in early June.

Soil moisture for much of the eastern U.S. appears to be adequate as of mid-June. The following areas had what is being described as "surplus" soil moisture on June 22:

• Eastern North Carolina

• Eastern New York State

• Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

• Tidewater area of Virginia

• The western half of West Virginia

• SW Pennsylvania

• SE Ohio

• Central Kentucky

• Central Tennessee

• NW Georgia

• Portions of Vermont

  
  
  
  

Eastern U.S. expected to be mostly drought-free for the remainder of the growing season - Image Credit - NOAA

The good news for most farmers in the Eastern U.S. is that many (if not all) states should be drought-free at least through the end of the main growing season. This is welcome news for those farmers who experienced poor crop yields for the last two years.

July, August, and September should bring above-average precipitation to much of the Eastern U.S. - Image credit - NOAA