Dry, dry, extra dry

In its weekly update, the U.S. Drought Monitor is showing some form of drought covering two-thirds of the region from West Virginia to Maine.

By comparison, last year at this time that description applied to only 0.3 percent of that region.

We all know about the season's paltry snow totals, but the rain totals are starting to play one downmanship with the snow's.

Since Jan. 1, precipitation is about half of normal on both sides of the Delaware River.

For the month, the totals are even scarier, averaging about 10 to 20 percent of normal.

Here are the totals for the year-to-date, and for April. These are derived from stations countywide.

That explains why the Philadelphia figure would be 10 percent for April, while the rainfall at Philadelphia International Airport comes is closer to 20 percent.

Looking ahead, no significant rains show up in the forecasts.

Loyal readers may recall that we've been saying that drought is long overdue around here. This could be the beginning.