Rain might be on the way for most of the Commonwealth this week, courtesy of a large, low-pressure system and potential landfall of a hurricane later this week.
However, at the moment, the state issued a Level 1 Drought Declaration Monday through the Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in coordination with the Kentucky Drought Mitigation Team.
This gives official indication of moderate to severe drought conditions that have developed, primarily affecting soil moisture and vegetative health.
Serious impacts to agricultural water needs, wildfire risk and other water-sensitive sectors can be expected in the designated areas, with the hardest-hit areas being portions of western and central Kentucky, as well as parts of the Bluegrass region.
This widespread dryness has intensified over the latter part of the summer, as precipitation that has fallen over the past two months remains spotty. In some areas, the drought has impacted agricultural water needs and increased the risk of wildfires.
Matthew Dixon, senior meteorologist with the University of Kentucky’s Agricultural Weather Center, said the state had only averaged 1.69 inches of rain in the last 30 days, nearly 1 ½ inches below normal.
He further noted that in some rivers and their tributaries, moderate hydrologic drought is developing, including the lower Green, lower Kentucky and Licking River basins. Most drinking water supplies across Kentucky have held up well, but there is an increasing likelihood of water shortages developing in rivers and small water supply lakes.
Jerry Brotzge, state climatologist and director of the Kentucky Mesonet and Climate Center, said he expects drought conditions to continue, at least in the near future, through early October.
The state’s “La Niña phase,” Brotzge said, should bring above-normal precipitation during winter and next spring.
