Drought Information Statement for Northern Ohio
Valid November 21, 2024
Issued By: NWS Cleveland
Contact Information: nicholas.greenawalt@noaa.gov  
This product will be updated by December 19, 2024 if severe drought conditions persist at that time.  
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 have improved slightly from last week across northwest Ohio and remain the same elsewhere. 
Small area of Extreme Drought (D3) conditions just southwest of the Canton area. 
Improvement in drought conditions likely through the winter.

Drought intensity and Extent
D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme southwest Stark and northeast Holmes counties.
D2 (Severe Drought): Much of northwest Ohio, small portions of Holmes, Wayne, Stark, and Mahoning counties.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Much of north central and east central Ohio, small portions of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, and northwest Pennsylvania.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought Worsened: Portions of northern Ohio along and near a line from Bowling Green southeast to Canton, and portions of the snow belt of northeast Ohio 
and northwest Pennsylvania.
 
No Change: Scattered portions of northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

Drought Improved: Small portion of Holmes and Knox counties.

Precipitation
Generally 1.5 to 3 inches of rainfall across northern Ohio and portions of northwest Pennsylvania over the past 30 days, equating to 30% to 90% of normal 
rainfall. Generally 1 to 1.5 inches of  rainfall across portions of Ashtabula and Erie (PA) counties, equating to 25% percent of normal rainfall.
       
Temperature
Temperatures have been above normal across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania over the past 7 days (ending 11/17.) Temperatures have been 
well above normal over the past 30 days (ending 11/17), generally 6 to 8 degrees above normal.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Streamflows are generally at below normal values across the local area where moderate drought (D1) or worse conditions are present. (USGS)

Agricultural Impacts
Lower crop yields during fall harvest, especially across D1 and D2 areas. (CoCoRaHS)
Abnormally dry shallow soil moisture values across the area. (CPC)

Fire Hazard Impacts
No known impacts at this time.

Other Impacts
No known impacts at this time.

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

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Several precipitation chances through November 28th.
Precipitation amounts generally less than one quarter of an inch across northwest Ohio to 1 to 2.5 inches in the snow belt regions of northeast Ohio and northwest 
Pennsylvania over the next week.
Precipitation will be in the form of both rain and snow through the next seven days.

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Latest monthly outlook for December indicates no strong signal for above or below normal precipitation and temperatures.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are predicted to improve and/or end across northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania through the winter based on the latest seasonal drought outlook.