Drought Information Statement for Northern Ohio
Valid September 19, 2024
Issued By: NWS Cleveland
Contact Information: nicholas.greenawalt@noaa.gov  
This product will be updated September 26, 2024.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/cle/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.
Continued northward expansion of drought across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania
Severe (D2) Drought conditions expand to 24% of the NWS Cleveland forecast area. 
More active pattern may bring rainfall to the area over the next week.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania


Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Lucas, Wood, Ottawa counties, including small portions of Sandusky and Hancock counties. Most of Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Holmes, Marion, Morrow and Knox counties, including a small portion of southern Ashland county.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of northern Ohio along and north of the U.S. 30 corridor.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Most of north central and northeast Ohio, portions of northwest Pennsylvania.

Precipitation
Generally 2 to 4 inches of rainfall across northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania over the past 30 days, with areas to the south and west with 2 inches or less of rainfall. Most of the area has received below normal rainfall over the past 30 days, with D2 areas receiving 25% or less percent of normal rainfall.

Temperature
Temperatures have been near normal across northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania over the past 7 and 30 days, with temperatures 1 to 3 degrees above normal across northwest and north central Ohio.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Streamflows are abnormally low across portions of the D1 and D2 areas.
Water levels on small creeks and ponds are low across the area.

Agricultural Impacts
Corn crops are brown and soybean leaves are yellowing in D1 and D2 areas.
Abnormally dry shallow soil moisture values across the area.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Low humidity, dry fuels, and periodic breezy winds may result in elevated fire danger in dry locations.

Other Impacts
Unwatered lawns have turned brown with grass becoming dormant in D0 to D2 locations, with the most widespread impacts in the D2 area.
Trees are losing leaves in all dry locations.

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
A more active pattern will bring some rainfall chances to the area over the next week.
Low chances of scattered/isolated rainfall Friday and Saturday, widespread rainfall chances are low. 
Best chances for rainfall across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania is Monday into Tuesday. 
Total rainfall amounts over the next 7 days of 0.50” to 1.00” possible.

Long-Range Outlooks
Latest monthly outlook for October indicates no strong signal for above or below normal precipitation. 
Chances are leaning towards above normal temperatures across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania for October.

Drought Outlook
Drought conditions are likely to persist through the end of September.
Some improvement in drought conditions may occur in October and November based on the latest seasonal drought outlook.