Drought in Delaware, June 1 to 30, 1999

Unseasonably dry weather continued throughout the month of June across Delaware. On a county weighted average June monthly precipitation averaged between 1.8 and 2.3 inches and was only about 55 percent of normal. Only the Dover local area came close to normal precipitation. The lack of rain added to longer term precipitation shortages. By the end of the month the Palmer Drought Severity Index rated the entire state as being in severe drought.Farmers were reporting stunted crop growth. Because of the lack of rain, they were not planting soybeans. There was increasing costs because of the need for early irrigation. Irrigation equipment companies reported a 500 percent increase in sales. They were working 15 to 16 hours a day to keep up with the demand. By the end of the month topsoil moisture conditions were rated as 42 percent short, subsoil moisture conditions were 36 percent short and pastures were 28 percent short or very short of moisture. The ongoing drought had other affects beyond agriculture. Water levels in shallow water table observation wells were all below normal. Daily streamflow conditions continued below average. The Red Clay Creek near Wooddale (New Castle County) was notching new daily streamflow lows. Flow along the White Clay Creek was half of normal and was so low that Newark (New Castle County) was on the verge of ceasing to pump water from the creek and start buying it from United Water of Delaware. Precipitation totals for the month included 4.04 inches in Dover (Kent County), 2.63 inches in Greenwood (Sussex County), 2.55 inches in Lewes (Sussex County), 2.12 inches in Georgetown (Sussex County), 1.90 inches at the Porter Reservoir (New Castle County) and 1.63 inches at the New Castle County Airport.