By Stephen Smoot
In the winter months, West Virginia received healthy amounts of precipitation. Heavy rains drenched the region in spring and early summer with little relief.
Now “healthy” and “heavy” have petered away to “hardly any.” As a result, the Mountain State faces reentry into drought conditions battled for much of 2024. Drier conditions have brought the depletion of water in streams as well as the onset of brush fires in some of the drier areas.
According to the official federal government website Drought.gov, West Virginia has seen its second driest August since recordkeeping commenced in 1895.
Except for miniscule border areas in the northwest and southeast, Harrison County currently is experiencing D-1 Moderate Drought. According to the National Weather Service, this brings the likelihood of “some damage to crops, pastures, fire risk high; streams, reservoirs or wells low, some water shortage developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.”
Directly to the north and south, however, areas are seeing D-2 Severe Drought, which could usher in “crop or pasture loss likely, fire risk very high, water shortages common, water restrictions imposed.” Portions of Lewis, Upshur, and Randolph have already settled in the next tier of D-4 Extreme Drought, the next to the worst level in terms of dry conditions and their impact.
Forecasts also show persistent daytime temperatures in the 80s with no rain expected in the near future.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture offered guidance to livestock producers last week, encouraging them to “take proactive steps . . . to prevent long-term damage.” To protect pasturelands, “WVDA recommends confining cattle if feeding hay and reducing grazing pressure until rainfall improves conditions.”
It goes on to state that “overgrazing during drought can weaken forage stands, making it difficult for pastures to recover.” The WVDA, however, offers “fencing from Conservation District offices to help confine animals and prevent damage.” Other relief programs may be approved if conditions persist.
The worst conditions afflict 10 counties classified in the system as D-3 Extreme Drought. According to the National Weather Service, this brings the likelihood of “major crop/pasture losses, extreme fire danger, widespread water shortages or restrictions. Counties in this tier include Hancock, Brooke, Barbour, Braxton, Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Lewis.
