Last year was a wet year in Missouri, according to the National Overview – Annual 2013. The map at right shows precipitation by state. The red, orange and yellow states were dry, the green ones wetter than average. The numbers show the rank, with 1 being the driest ever, and 119 being the wettest.

In 2013, Missouri received on average 46.30 inches of precipitation, 5.54 inches more than its long term average, and ranking 2013 as the 21st wettest ever. This compares to 30.86 inches in 2012, which was 9.90 inches below average.

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The first chart at right updates one I posted in December showing the annual Palmer Drought Index for Missouri. The recent trend towards wetter conditions continued in 2013.

(Click on chart for larger view.)

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In December, I noted that the annual PDI for Missouri encompassed all regions of the state and the whole year. There was a short term drought during the summer of 2012, however, and it was most severe in Northwest Missouri. What happened this year? The second chart at right updates the one I gave you in December. It shows that the summer 2013 was dry in Northwest Missouri, but not dry enough to be considered a moderate drought.

(Click on chart for larger view.)

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In December I also looked at long term drought conditions in the Northern Plains & Rockies. I looked at this region because the Missouri River is a very important source of water for us, and this is where much of that water comes from. The third chart at right updates the one I gave you in December. Last year was drier than average, but not dry enough to be considered a moderate drought.

(Click on chart for larger view.)

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The percentage of regions throughout the country that were considered very dry decreased last year from 2012. Very dry means they received an amount of precipitation that ranks in the lowest 10% ever measured. The update is shown in the fourth chart at right. The red columns are the raw data, the solid black line is a 24-month moving average, and the dashed line shows the reading for 2013.

(Click on chart for larger view.)

Sources:

The map of precipitation in the United States was from: National Climatic Data Center. 2013. “National Overview – Annual 2013.” NCDC Home Page » Climate Information » Analyses – Monthly U.S. Climate Reports » U.S. Analysis. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national. On this page, if the national overview is not showing, select “National Overview,” in the Report Field, “2013” in the Year Field, and “Annual” in the Month Field.

The precipitation data and data for the drought charts were obtained using:
National Climatic Data Center, “Climate at a Glance.” NCDC Home Page » Temperature, Precipitation, and Drought Rankings. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag.

Wet vs. Dry percentages for the United States were created using the Temperature, Precipitation, and Drought data portal at the National Climatic Data Center: Home:
NCDC Home Page > Climate Monitoring > Temp, Precip, and Drought > U.S. Percentage Areas (Very Warm/Cold, Very Wet/Dry). http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/uspa/index.php?area=wet-dry&month=0.