Landscape Message: May 22, 2015

From the Pioneer Valley Region (Amherst) report:

"Over a four week period (4/22 to 5/20), most of the valley has received
only 0.2−0.4” of rainfall, well below normal for this time of year.
Scattered rain showers pushed through on Saturday 5/16 but accumulations
were less than 0.1”. Additional rainfall came on Tuesday, 5/19 but
accumulations were again minimal, generally between 0.15−0.35”. Strong
thunderstorm cells swept from northwest to southeast through the region
during the evening of 5/19 with Hampden County receiving the worst of
the wind and heavy rain. As is often the case, these storms bring heavy
rainfall but move so quickly the accumulations are nominal. The updated
U.S. Drought Monitor map for the northeast region (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/RegionalDroughtMonitor.aspx?northeast)
shows that over half of New England is now in the “moderate drought”
category, an increase from the “abnormally dry” designation one week
ago. For the year to date, average precipitation in the valley is
between 4−8” below normal, according to the National Weather Service
Eastern Region Headquarters. While many will remember the heavy snowfall
we received in late January and February, the snow was very dry and
fluffy with low water content. According to the USGS Water Watch (http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ma/nwis/rt),
the Connecticut River and its main tributaries are flowing at heights
well below normal. The main tributaries (Green, Millers, Deerfield,
Mill, Westfield and Chicopee Rivers) have streamflow rates of 22−39%
normal for this time of year, while the mighty Connecticut is only 47%
of normal at the Montague discharge station."

PIONEER VALLEY REGION - Nick Brazee, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, reporting from UMass Amherst.