Mississippi River Battered By Northern Drought
This year, Gulf storms have battered the Mississippi, while upstream droughts have lowered currents around Ohio and West Virginia. The Drought Monitor shows exceptional drought (the worst kind) in southern Ohio and almost all of West Virginia. Between the two states, the Ohio River is among the largest water sources for the Mississippi as it joins the larger river just south of Illinois.
Climate Central reports that another area of drought has made conditions worse. “Since 2022, much of the Midwest has experienced some level of drought, with the driest conditions concentrated in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas.”
According to Google AI, the Mississippi carries 175 million tons of freight annually in the river’s northern part. Drought causes a supply chain interruption that cannot be replaced by truck or rail service.
Climate Central reports that barge rates have spiked. “Barge rates from St. Louis reached $24.62 a ton in late August and $27.49 per ton by the following week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
While inflation is low in the US, supply chain interruptions and price increases do not help.
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