3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

weather

Severe Drought in Eastern Nebraska

by

Drought burned corn in Nebraska
Drought burned corn in Nebraska

What a difference a year makes. A year ago the Midwest was in the most severe flood in history. This season it’s the worst drought anyone can remember. The season started early with warm weather that encouraged early planting. Detassling started the last weekend in June , which was about 2-3 weeks early.

The drought is in full swing and in Eastern Nebraska the corn is beyond recovery. Corn harvest officially started the sedond week in August.

Drought in the corn field
Harvesting drought affected corn in August

Farmers are cutting CRP grass to have enough forage for winter and the bean crop, while still green, has little hope. I have lived in Nebraska for almost 25 years and this summer has been the first year we have had 10 days of highs in the 100’s.

 

In Western Nebraska 100 degree temperatures have been reached 43 days out of the last sixty. Even the crops under pivots and irrigation are hurting.

The Nebraska state drought monitor has placed the entire state in a severe drought state in late July with 83% of the state being in extreme drought.

US Drought Map
US Drought Map

Related articles

Severe Thunderstorms in the Midwest

by

Thunderclouds in Nebraska
Thunderclouds in Nebraska

Just thunderstorms tonight in Nebraska, but note the circular rotation in the clouds overhead. They were definitely moving in different directions.  No tornado, the clouds quickly merged into each other, but we did get a wonderful thunder and lightning storm. I love weather, ok, dramatic weather.

We really needed the rain too, it was getting very dry.

Thunderstorm in the Midwest
Thunderstorm in the Midwest

Shot in RAW, processed in Lightroom 4, used adjustment brush over the clouds to increase the clarity and shadows between the clouds.

#12/52: Spring in March? So Soon?

by

I don’t ever remember wearing shorts in March, not in Nebraska anyway. But when the temperature reaches into the 80’s the winter not only do the white legs come out, but the trees start blooming.

A photographer client told me last week he had just returned from the Smokie Mountains where the cherry blossoms were already at their peak. Six weeks early. By the time the Cherry Blossom Festival arrives there won’t be any flowers.

Not sure what species of tree this is, but it was pretty, and in honor of spring it’s  my photo of the week.

White flowering tree in spring

Related articles

Day 204/365: Thor, The Mythological God of Thunder

by

Can you see Thor?
Can you see Thor?

 

Phone rings…

Beth driving home from Lincoln: “Have you seen the sky?”

Me: “No, but let me look, OMG, it’s awesome! I gotta get my camera”

Beth: “The clouds are really scary, be careful”

Me: “I’m looking at the storm clouds over your house, very cool”

“Oh, my, one of your cats is on the roof again.”

Beth: “What color is the cat?”

Me: “Black and white”

Beth: “That makes sense, that Thor, the god of thunder”

Can you see him, he’s to the left of basketball hoop on the front roof, a little white smudge.