Drought in Missouri, March 1 to 31, 2006

Name: Drought in Missouri, March 1 to 31, 2006
Start: 2006-03-01T00:00
End: 2006-03-31T23:59
Location: Missouri

March 1 to 31, 2006 · NWS SGF · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

All time record dry conditions for the month of February were experienced at both Springfield and Joplin as less than one tenth of an inch of precipitation fell at both ASOS locations. 01 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS SGF wrote it up.

All time record dry conditions for the month of February were experienced at both Springfield and Joplin as less than one tenth of an inch of precipitation fell at both ASOS locations. Springfield recorded a total of 0.09 inches while Joplin only recorded 0.01 inches. Southwest and west central Missouri had already been experiencing drought conditions going into the month of February, therefore these low rainfall totals increased the intensity of the drought heading into March. Areas along and west of a line from Kimberling City to Osceola Missouri were upgraded into an extreme drought according to the United States Drought Monitor. Areas to the immediate east of a line from Kimberling City to Osceola Missouri were analyzed as experiencing a severe drought including, Taney, Christian, Greene, Webster, Polk, Dallas, Hickory, and Benton counties. The region eventually experienced a few rounds of moderate to heavy rain through the month of March, which began to alleviate the severe and extreme drought situations across southwest Missouri.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 11:43 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 11:43 PM CST, 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
1143 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2006

.DISCUSSION...

ANOTHER UNSEASONABLY WARM DAY WAS IN PROGRESS WITH EARLY AFTERNOON
TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S.  A VEIL OF CIRRUS SPILLING
OVER AN UPPER RIDGE ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS MAY HAVE TRIMMED A DEGREE
OR TWO OFF OF AFTERNOON MAXIMUMS.

THIS UPPER RIDGE WILL TRANSLATE EAST ACROSS THE REGION AND GRADUALLY
BREAK DOWN OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS SHORTWAVES EJECT EASTWARD FROM
THE PACIFIC COAST. A LEE SIDE TROUGH ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS THIS
AFTERNOON WILL SHIFT EASTWARD TONIGHT. RESULTING SOUTHERLY WINDS
WILL MAKE FOR A VERY MILD NIGHT WHILE SURFACE MOISTURE INCHES
UPWARD.

SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ALONG A DEVELOPING COLD FRONT
WEDNESDAY AND TRACK INTO NORTHERN MISSOURI DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE
FORECAST AREA WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR DURING THE DAY
WEDNESDAY WITH WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES NOSING INTO THE AREA. THIS
ALONG WITH AMPLE SUNSHINE WILL PUSH TEMPERATURES TO NEAR RECORD
TERRITORY ONCE AGAIN. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL RISE INTO THE LOWER TO
POSSIBLY MIDDLE 50S WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH
CENTRAL MISSOURI. ALTHOUGH THIS WILL YIELD SOME MODEST SURFACE BASED
INSTABILITY...CONVECTIVE INHIBITION WILL BE QUITE STRONG AS A RESULT
OF A STRONG CAPPING INVERSION. I HAVE MAINTAINED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
CONVECTION ACROSS THE EASTERN OZARKS LATE IN THE DAY INTO WEDNESDAY
EVENING WHERE MID LEVEL COOLING MAY CATCH UP WITH THE FRONT.

COOLER AIR WILL SETTLE BACK ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OUT OF THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PROVINCES.
THIS HIGH WILL MIGRATE OFF TO THE EAST LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
WHILE A MORE POTENT SHORTWAVE LIFTS NORTHEAST OUT OF THE CENTRAL
ROCKIES. THERE IS ALSO SOME INDICATION THAT A MINOR IMPULSE MAY
TRACK INTO THE CENTRAL U.S.  WARM AIR ADVECTION PRECIPITATION IS
PROGGED TO DEVELOP FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. I HAVE
MAINTAINED A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND PROBABILITIES
MAY NEED TO BE INCREASED IF CURRENT MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE. COOLER
AIR WILL SPREAD BACK INTO REGION LATER IN THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT
WEEK.

FOSTER

&&

.CLIMATE...

RECORD HIGHS APPEAR TO BE IN JEOPARDY AGAIN WEDNESDAY. HERE ARE THE
CURRENT RECORD HIGHS:

        TODAY       WEDNESDAY
SGF     76 1976      77 1976
JLN     78 1972      77 1976
UNO     77 1955      74 1972
VIH     75 1972      77 1992

IZZI

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING FRONT. 20 FT
WINDS WILL INCREASE TO NEARLY 20 MPH. ALTHOUGH SURFACE DEWPOINTS
WILL CONTINUE TO RISE...THE UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
PRODUCE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AS LOW AS 35 PERCENT. SOUTHEAST KANSAS
AND FAR SOUTHWEST MISSOURI COULD SEE MOISTURE LEVELS BEGIN TO FALL
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST.

FOSTER

&&

.AVIATION...

FOR THE 0600 GMT KSGF/KJLN TAFS...VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. AN APPROACHING FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA
WITH WEDNESDAY. NO RAIN IS EXPECTED. LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL INCREASE
OVER THE AREA TONIGHT AND BE GUSTY AT TIMES. THE FRONT WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE REGION MID-LATE AFTERNOON. DSA

&&

.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

MO...NONE.
KS...NONE.

WFO SGF

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 1:00 PM CST, 11 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
100 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2006

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-011900-
BOURBON-CRAWFORD-CHEROKEE-BENTON-MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-VERNON-
ST. CLAIR-HICKORY-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-BARTON-CEDAR-POLK-DALLAS-
LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-JASPER-DADE-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-NEWTON-
LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY-STONE-
TANEY-OZARK-OREGON-
100 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI
OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

  NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

  AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY ACROSS THE
  MISSOURI OZARKS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS DUE TO GUSTY SOUTHERLY
  WINDS AND AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AS LOW AS 35 PERCENT.

  A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA
  FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY AS A SERIES OF UPPER DISTURBANCES
  INTERACT WITH THE INCREASED MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

&&

THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE IN GRAPHICAL FORMAT...ALONG WITH
OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION...AT
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/SGF(ALL LOWERCASE)

FOSTER

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, McDonald

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McDonald forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.629, -94.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Newton

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Newton forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.906, -94.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jasper

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.204, -94.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Barton

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Barton forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.502, -94.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Vernon

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Vernon forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.851, -94.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, St. Clair

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: St. Clair forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 38.037, -93.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cedar

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cedar forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.724, -93.857 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dade

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dade forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.432, -93.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lawrence

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.106, -93.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Barry

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Barry forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.710, -93.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Stone

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Stone forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.747, -93.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Taney

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Taney forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.655, -93.041 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Christian

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Christian forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 36.970, -93.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Greene

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.258, -93.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Polk

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.617, -93.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hickory

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hickory forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.941, -93.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Benton

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 38.295, -93.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dallas

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.680, -93.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Webster

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 37.281, -92.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, March 2006

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5494256, 5494257, 5494258, 5494288, 5494289, 5494290, 5494291, 5494292, 5494293, 5494294, 5494295, 5494296, 5494297, 5494298, 5494299, 5494300, 5494301, 5494302, 5494303.