Drought in Delaware, September 1 to 17, 1999

The drought that gripped the Middle Atlantic States throughout much of the growing season eased in mid August. Normal, and in some cases, heavier than normal rainfall returned. On September 8th Governor Thomas Carper lifted the mandatory watering restrictions in Northern Delaware. The drought, for all intents and purposes, ended with the arrival of the record breaking rain associated with Hurricane Floyd on the 16th. As much as 10.5 inches of rain (or about 3 months worth of normal rainfall) fell from Floyd across Delaware. The drought emergency was lifted by Governor Carper on the 21st. The heavy rain came too late to help farmers. Agricultural losses throughout the state of Delaware were estimated at 29.1 million dollars. The 1999 corn harvest of 12.9 million bushels was 2.6 million bushels less than 1998 and the smallest crop since 9.8 million bushels in 1988. The soybean harvest of 5.2 million bushels in 1999 was 1.9 million bushels less than 1998 and the smallest harvest since 4.7 million bushels in 1995. The drought also greatly affected pastures and produced a later and smaller than usual pumpkin crop.