Drought Affecting Parts Of Southern Indiana

More than half of Indiana is experiencing abnormally dry soil conditions and parts of 22 southern Indiana counties are experiencing moderate or severe drought.

But Ken Scheeringa, Indiana’s associate state climatologist, says the situation isn’t as bad as it could be.

“The timing is everything. Summer time is not good. Fall is not so bad,” says Scheeringa.

Summer drought conditions affect crop production, but since harvest has wrapped up, Scheeringa says the impacts of a fall drought are limited.

Indiana last experienced a major drought in 2012 — that one did affect crop yields.

“But recently, since 2012, our Indiana droughts have been slipping in time toward the fall,” Scheeringa says. “Compared to the last few years, this is really not too unusual.”

Scheeringa expects the drought conditions to dissipate soon, with lots of rain and snow in store for winter.

Other parts of the country are drought stricken, too. California has been in a drought for the past five years. Scheeringa says Indiana is part of the northern edge of a massive drought affecting the southeastern United States, the worst there since 2008.

“The impacts down there would be much more severe than they’re going to be here in Indiana,” says Scheeringa.