Drought Information Statement for the Middle Ohio River Valley Valid September 13, 2024 Issued By: NWS Wilmington Ohio Contact Information: spotreport.iln@noaa.gov This product will be updated Oct 11, 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/ILN/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Drought conditions have worsened or expanded across much of the region. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Lower Midwest Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): Expanding across portions of the Lower Scioto/Hocking basins D3 (Extreme Drought): Much of the Scioto/Hocking/Licking basins of Ohio D2 (Severe Drought): Now expanding westward through Ohio and into areas of Northern Kentucky D1 (Moderate Drought): Westward expansion to include nearly the entire region. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Limited to a small portion of the region near the Ohio River Recent Change in Drought Intensity latest 4-week change map for Ohio River Valley Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Nearly the entire region has worsened since mid August. No Change: Focused areas of recent rainfall has been just enough to keep some conditions status quo in some locations near the Ohio River Drought Improved: Only a very small area of improvement in southwest Ohio and a sliver of Northern Kentucky. Precipitation Accumulations and Percent of Normal Only isolated locations have received ‘near normal’ to ‘above normal rainfall over the past 30 days. Well below normal precipitation has affected nearly the entire region - with most locations receiving just 5% to 50% of normal rainfall. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Below normal streamflow has been persistent, and in some cases worsening, across the mid Ohio Valley. Springs have stopped running and creeks are drying up State Climate office of Ohio Agricultural Impacts Drought of 2024 leads to disaster declaration for 22 Ohio Counties Ohio Country Journal Late planted corn and soybeans are being impacted by drought conditions. Pastures are in dire need of rain and many producers have begun feeding hay. Kentucky DOW Drought report Ohio Crop Weather Report, Indiana Crop Weather Report, Kentucky Crop Weather Report Ohio Country Journal State Climate Office of Ohio Kentucky Division of Water Drought Page Fire Hazard Impacts Easily sparked hay, field fires Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions Some localities have issued voluntary or mandatory water restrictions Hauling water for hog and dairy operations. Some farmers are chopping corn for feed. OSU Extension A Burn ban is in effect for some Ohio and Kentucky Counties Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid September 12, 2024 Below normal streamflow is now affecting many river basins across the region Fire Hazard Impacts Summarize conditions/impacts here Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Remnants of Francine not expected to provide relief, with precipitation next week also expected to remain light and mostly outside the region. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Looking further into the fall, there is not a strong signal for above nor below normal precipitation. However, Sep-Nov precipitation tends to be lower than other months of the year, so there is no expectation at this time that there will be a ‘drought ending’ precipitation pattern shift. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage With no long range signal for cool and wet weather at the time of this issuance, drought conditions are projected to persist or worsen through much of the region through September and into the remainder of the fall. Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook