Drought impacts on Tennessee

[Meg Lesher]

Thanks, Hiknapster, for that link to the drought maps. That is very helpful. Concern for water is a big factor in thinking about relocation anywhere. I've read that it is going to be the big issue of this century, worldwide, and believe it.

[sliverbox]

Well, One thing to remember is that droughts come and go in this region. As a kid in the early 80's we had a 4-5 year stint of very little rain. Summer for me as a child mean brown lawns, cracked clay mud, and very hot temperatures. Then for years it rained like crazy all summer to the point that we wondered if it would EVER stop. The saying in TN was that if you don't like the weather, wait until tomorrow.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

Well, One thing to remember is that droughts come and go in this region. As a kid in the early 80's we had a 4-5 year stint of very little rain. Summer for me as a child mean brown lawns, cracked clay mud, and very hot temperatures. Then for years it rained like crazy all summer to the point that we wondered if it would EVER stop. The saying in TN was that if you don't like the weather, wait until tomorrow.

Mark Twain said, "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes."

Every locality has adopted it to sound dramatic and unique.

Actually, waiting for a drought to change is like watching paint dry.

[Fallingwater79]

I was looking at the TN forum as a co-worker is moving to Nashville and I was looking up some things for her...anyways....I'm in upstate NY and our weather has been off since last fall....every other month was either the warmest, coldest or driest. Never snowed until December....right now, we're almost 4 inches down on our normal precip for the year and May went on record as the driest EVER!!!!! Sounds like we're mirroring TN!

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by smalltownusa

I was looking at the TN forum as a co-worker is moving to Nashville and I was looking up some things for her...anyways....I'm in upstate NY and our weather has been off since last fall....every other month was either the warmest, coldest or driest. Never snowed until December....right now, we're almost 4 inches down on our normal precip for the year and May went on record as the driest EVER!!!!! Sounds like we're mirroring TN!

So far, this has been just about the "weirdest" year I can remember here. I don't think I've ever seen a later frost, or a drier spring. I think we had a record dry May here as well.

[hilly7]

It depends on which area is worse here, Hawkins county is bad but hay yeilds were better that Jefferson which had bad hay yields so far. Hamblen was sort of inbetween in two. Not sure about Servier County but my wife's parents say Cocke co is about in the same boat as Jefferson Co.
Lakes are down quite a lot. I've seen it worse but it's been over 20 years ago.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

For being in a drought, East TN sure is a lush green. I started to notice the brown grass when I was driving through Georgia on the way back to Florida this morning. What a difference in color from TN to FL.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

Well, One thing to remember is that droughts come and go in this region. As a kid in the early 80's we had a 4-5 year stint of very little rain. Summer for me as a child mean brown lawns, cracked clay mud, and very hot temperatures. Then for years it rained like crazy all summer to the point that we wondered if it would EVER stop.

That is an excellent post, and it's the point I was going to make, too.

Remember, those precipitation averages are just that, AVERAGES. If Knoxville averages 51 inches of rain a year, that means some years it can rain 60 inches, some years 40 inches, some years 65 inches, some years 35 inches. That average of 51 inches of precipitation is a long-term average. It doesn't mean that Knoxville is SUPPOSED to have 51 inches of precipitation a year. Like silverbox said, eventually Mother Nature will correct herself and bring lots and lots of rain to Knoxville. And then we'll be complaining again.

I'm sitting here in South China sweating to death because the temperatures are hot and the weather is extremely muggy (kind of like Florida!). It doesn't get below 80 degrees and 90% humidity, even at 3 in the morning. It rains almost every day. And I can't stand it. Believe me, I'd take Tennessee's dry weather right now!

[hilly7]

While averages are all nice and well and doughts may come and go drought has been affecting agriculture. Beef should go down soon in the stores because the market has flooded due to dry weather and without rain soon second cuttings for hay will be like the first which will force cattle farmers to sell breeding stock. Then when next year comes prices will go way back up because there is less breeding stock.
The drought is compounded by the 2 week extreme cold snap we had after a couple of weeks of unseasonable warm weather. This caused early blooming and growth then the cold snap damaged them. Produce will be higher, except for some places that buy from China & third world countries.
The average may look good on paper but real time stats are different.