Drought in Maryland, May 1 to 31, 1999

A drought warning remained in effect for the state of Maryland through the month of May. Rainfall totals during the month did not help and were well below normal, especially in southern areas of the Eastern Shore. On a county weighted average, monthly rainfall totals ranged from 0.6 inches in Talbot County (only .7 of an inch in Caroline County) to 2.7 inches in Cecil County. This was only around 15 percent of normal for Talbot and Caroline Counties, 23 percent of normal in Queen Anne's County, 45 percent of normal in Kent County and 66 percent of normal in Cecil County. Below normal rainfall affected the whole state. It was the 14th driest May in 105 years of record for the state of Maryland. Only 50 percent of normal rainfall fell. Streamflow decreased throughout the region and was below normal by the end of the month. Agricultural concerns were also feeling the affect of the dry weather. Herbicides failed because of the dry weather. Corn reportedly stopped growing. Some farmers along the Eastern Shore stopped planting soybeans. Moisture content of topsoil and subsoil levels were rated either very short or short on about 75 percent of all farms in the state.