BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – Most of Branch County remain in a severe drought due to the lack of rainfall since early May according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday.
Moderate drought conditions are being reported in far northern part of Branch County. Severe drought conditions continue in portions of Hillsdale, St. Joseph and Cass Counties as well as in the Grand Rapids and Manistee areas.
All of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula has been affected by the dry weather. The Thumb and the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula remain abnormally dry while most of the rest of the L.P. is either in a moderate or severe drought.
Moderate or severe drought condition now affect 56 percent of Michigan. The U.S. Drought Monitor says dry weather in the Upper Midwest led to further degrading conditions in parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Branch County has gotten some much needed precipitation since June 25 as the M.S.U. Extension Service weather station at the Bloom Dairy Farm has measured 1.74 inches of rain. For locations in severe drought, lawns could go dormant, crops may exhibit stunted growth or need to be irrigated more frequently and water restrictions may be imposed.
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