Without snow on the ground, it just doesnt feel all that much like the holidays in this part of the country.
Mother Nature delivered this past week however, just in time for Christmas.
The region received a nice and much-needed dose of rain on the 24th before the sleet and snow mix that followed on December 25th. Over an inch and a half of precipitation was measured across the area at a time many were beginning to speculate just how much worse the drought we are in might get.
This winter, there has been little to no moisture in the forecast until this past week. The year so far has brought 21.5 inches of precipitation compared to 20.37 inches of rain in 2022, which was also a dry year, at the Flandreau Official Weather Observer.
The region, as of December 26th, also remains in various states of drought with nearly every county in Iowa and Missouri affected.
The warmer and drier El Nio weather pattern is only adding to concerns ahead of the 2024 growing season. The winter outlook calls for below normal precipitation through at least February.
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