Global Crop Watch

Global Crop Watch Summary July 25, 2003 -  Mostly dry weather in S. Australia and New South Wales, unseasonably hot in Europe but mild in the Ukraine, heavy rain and flooding in China's Yangtze Basin, increased dryness in Mexico's corn belt, very dry in the US central Plains but cooler and rainy in the Midwest.  

Europe - Maximum Temperature and Departure from Normal, July 15 - 19, 2003.  Summer crops in western and northern Europe continue to be stressed by record-breaking heat.  Cooler weather and showers eased drought concerns in eastern Europe, Moldova, and Ukraine.  

Satellite Image of Super Typhoon Imbudo, July 21 - 25, 2003.  Imbudo was the strongest typhoon in the western Pacific in several years.  It caused significant crop losses and property damage from very high winds and torrential rainfall (up to 2 feet in Luzon, Philippines).  Heavy flooding in Guangdong, China.

U.S. and Mexico 7- Day Cumulative Precipitation Map for the Period Ending July 23, 2003.  This map from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center shows heavy rain in the eastern US and dryness in the west.  Scattered monsoon rainfall brought some relief to the southwest, but temperatures and evaporation remain very high.

U.S. Drought Monitor for July 15, 2003.  Drought has spread and intensified in the Great Plains due to unusually high temperatures (100 to 110 F.)  Extreme drought continues in the intermountain west.  For discussion, go to the Drought Monitor website. 

Wildfire Danger Is Very High Due to Drought.  This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows the location of major fires  in the western US.