Drought Information Statement for Northern Ohio
Valid September 26, 2024
Issued By: NWS Cleveland
Contact Information: nicholas.greenawalt@noaa.gov  
This product will be updated October 24, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
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.
Drought conditions mostly unchanged from last week across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. 
Small expansion of Severe Drought (D2) conditions in and near the Mahoning Valley. 
Remnants of Hurricane Helene could bring some rain to the area this weekend.

U.S. Drought Monitor
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, Knox and Mahoning counties, including small portions of southern Ashland, southeast Stark county.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of northern Ohio along and north of the U.S. 30 corridor.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Most of north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, and northwest Pennsylvania.

Precipitation
Generally 2 to 4 inches of rainfall across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania over the past 30 days, with much of this rainfall occurring in the past 7 days. Despite near to above normal precipitation over the past 7 days, rainfall over the past 30 days has generally been 75% or less of normal.

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, especially in D2 areas.

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
The remnants of Hurricane Helene will move into the Ohio Valley late Friday into this weekend. 
Rainfall amounts generally less than an inch over the next week, with higher amounts south of the area.
Best chances for rainfall across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania is late Friday through Monday. 

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
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
Some improvement in drought conditions may occur in October and November based on the latest seasonal drought outlook.