A new drought, the rain strikes back, and return of the orchards

LA PORTE, Ind. -- With dry weather in the forecast, drought across Michiana has only gotten worse despite this past week's rain.

According to the most recent U.S. drought monitor report, moderate drought conditions increased by around 20% from this past week across Michiana.

The state of Indiana saw over a 50% increase in moderate drought conditions across the state.

At the beginning of September, Michiana was coming off its second longest dry streak of the year.

From August 18 to September 5, our area recorded 19 days without appreciable rainfall.

We're still down on monthly rain too by around an inch and a half.

Luckily, this isn't limiting Garwood Orchards in La Porte County from helping supply the residents of Michiana with fresh apples among a variety of other fruits and vegetables.

Carey Garwood of Garwood Orchards told ABC57 that the natural hardiness of apple trees in conjunction with irrigation techniques helps mitigate drought conditions.

Per Garwood Orchards, in season right now are apples, pumpkins, hot peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, blackberries, and red/black raspberries.

Michiana can be expecting more dry weather in the future, courtesy of multiple factors.

Upper-level winds driven by larger global forcings are the primary reason for our lack of rainfall in the foreseeable future.

Michiana will be under the direct influence of a feature called an omega block, an upper-level blocking pattern that resembles the Greek letter omega when analyzed.

A ridge of high pressure over the Midwest will be sandwiched between two areas of low pressure on the east and west, severely limiting moisture and cooler temperatures from the pacific northwest necessary for rain.

Instead, the counterclockwise flow from the western low-pressure system bends down into the American southwest, and arid, warmer air is transported into our area across the Great Plains.

Temperatures will likely climb back into the 80s heading into the start of next week as rain chances substantially decrease.