By Stephen Smoot
The United States Drought Monitor, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, released a map on June 15 indicating that much of northern West Virginia currently is experiencing a “moderate drought.” It also revealed that most of the central and eastern counties not yet experiencing drought face “abnormally dry” conditions,, also categorized as “D1.” More than 930,000 West Virginians live in the affected zones.
A small sliver of southeastern Harrison County and much of Upshur, however, may be experiencing “D2” or “severe drought” conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, an operation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NDIDIS.
According to the map, the boundary line between “moderate drought” and “abnormally dry” starts in the west at Ravenswood, bisects Jackson County, then follows a line that runs east-southeast to the Pocahontas County-Virginia line.
The NDIDIS indicates that last May served as the 40th driest May in 129 years of information gathered and the 17th driest year.
According to the National Weather Service, “moderate drought” conditions may involve “some damage to crops, pastures, fire risk high, streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.”
“Severe drought” involves “crop or pasture losses likely, fire risk very high, water shortages common, water restrictions imposed.”
Harrison County has 14, 559 acres of hay, 7,576 acres of haylage, 5,799 cattle, and 690 sheep in challenging conditions created by the lack of rainfall.
According to data collected by the National Center for Environmental Information, also under NOAA, Harrison County’s average rainfall in May between 2018 and 2022 was 4.858 inches. May 2023 brought 3.27, the lowest for May since 2015 when only 2.74 inches fell. Between December and April 2023, Harrison County received a monthly average of 2,868 inches.
Lack of rain has been mitigated somewhat by temperatures. May 2023 saw average temperatures more than four degrees lower than the average of 63.98 between 2018 and 2022. June has also seen unseasonably cool temperatures.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reports showed that approximately 80 percent of West Virginia’s topsoil moisture for the week ending June 11 was “short” or “very short.” Last year in the same week, top soil moisture was rated as a combined 95 percent mostly adequate, but also some surplus.
The same report also provided an outlook for key crops and livestock, including apples, peaches, hay, winter wheat, pasture, cattle/calves, and sheep/lambs. Conditions for the vast majority of those engaging in these activities remain between fair and very good, according to the USDA.
Recent weather and the National Weather Service forecast, however, brings welcoming news. In addition to days of recent rains (include forecast starting at publishing date and run through forecats, include rain from last week)
