Are Droughts Really Getting Worse
News media seems to ignore the past and commonality of droughts
6/22/20262 min read
If you listen to the climate alarmists, they would have you believe droughts are more numerous and worse than in the past. People should be asking, “Is it actually true?” The facts:
Drought is a normal climate pattern that has occurred in varying degrees of length, severity, and size throughout history. Decade long droughts have been a common occurrence, and climate model simulations suggest that droughts can often last for years on end.
A look at the 1800’s in North America: A drought began in 1850 and lasted for 15 years. Another one hit in the 1870s, and yet another one in the 1890s. The periods from 1816 to 1844 was also rather dry. In fact, most of the 19th century was quite dry for the Great Plains. Bison were leaving the Plains due to starvation. While there was little rain-gauge data to record rainfall at the time, there were plenty of trees. Tree-rings can be used to determine overall drought conditions.
The 1870–77 drought brought with it a major swarm of Rocky Mountain Locusts. Droughts benefit locusts, and they grow more quickly during a drought. As they gather in small spots of lush vegetation, shear numbers then swarm and destroy farmland.
The 1890-96 drought was the first to be adequately recorded by rain gauges. The 1880’s were rather wet and promised settlers with farmland abundance. False hopes and the following reality caused many families to emigrate from the promised land and give up farming and ranching.
Forward to the 1900’s: Despite today’s climate alarmists, the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s is still the most notable drought and extreme heat event on U.S. record. During the decade, the northern plains suffered four of their seven driest calendar years since 1895, and the entire region south to West Texas lacked any period of above-normal rainfall until record rains hit in 1941. The decade was so dry, when combined with farm practices at the time, wind picked up dust and blew it as far as the Atlantic Ocean.
The 1950’s drought lasted from July 1949 through September 1957. Droughts were widespread through the Central Plains, Midwest and certain Rocky Mountain states. In 1956, parts of central Nebraska reached a drought index of −7, three points beyond the extreme drought rating. From 1950 to 1957, Texas experienced the most severe drought in recorded history. 244 of Texas's 254 counties had been declared federal disaster areas. (One of my libertarian books, “The Time it Never Rained” by Elmer Kelton, is based on this event). Numerous lakes in California dried up completely in 1953. The Southwest, drought stricken in the 1940’s, also suffered.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, between 1895 and 2010, in any given year, on average, 14 percent of the United States was (and will be) in a drought rated D2–D3. The scale goes from D0 (minimal) to D4 (exceptional).
Yes, today we may be seeing droughts that seem to be extreme, but only because most of us weren’t alive to experience previous lengthy droughts… or have 24/7 news brainwash us on severity. Perspective matters.
Sources used: drought.gov
