330 AXUS71 KRLX 181858 DGTRLX KYC019-043-089-127-OHC009-053-079-087-105-115-127-163-167-VAC027- 051-WVC001-005-007-011-013-015-017-019-021-033-035-039-041-043- 045-047-053-059-067-073-075-079-081-083-085-087-091-095-097-099- 101-105-107-109-251900- Drought Information Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 258 PM EDT Fri Oct 18 2019 ...Severe Drought Conditions have eased in some areas in Southern West Virginia and Dickenson and Buchanan Counties in Southwest Virginia... ...Abnormally dry and Moderate Drought Conditions have eased elsewhere across West Virginia, Southeast Ohio, Northeastern Kentucky and Dickenson and Buchanan Counties in Southwest Virginia... ...Normal Conditions were noted along the Ohio River and portions of Southeast Ohio and Northeast West Virginia... SYNOPSIS... Recent rains have eased drought conditions across the area. Abnormally dry to severe drought conditions were noted across much of West Virginia, and Buchanan and Dickenson Counties in Southwest Virginia. Recent rain has eased some of the drought impacts along the Ohio River and into Southeast Ohio and Northeast Kentucky. Pockets of severe drought (D2) were noted across portions of Southern West Virginia and into Buchanan and Dickenson Counties in Southwest Virginia. Moderate drought (D1) surrounds the area of severe drought and includes the southern half of West Virginia. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions were noted from Gallia county in Southeast Ohio across to Northeast West Virginia. Normal Conditions were noted along the Ohio River into much of Southeast Ohio and Northeast Kentucky. Summary of Impacts... Drought Declarations were issued for West Virginia and Northeast Kentucky. Burn bans are in effect for Northeast Kentucky. Volunteer water restrictions are also in effect for Southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfire potential is still high to moderate throughout the entire area. The public should always check with local officials before attempting any outside burning. Citizens may be liable for damages and suppression costs of any wildfire they may start. For the entire state of West Virginia, 66 percent of topsoil was short or very short. Crop moisture index was excessively to severely dry. Crop moisture index has improved along the Ohio River. Some farmers are still supplementing feed for livestock. Several small streams and creeks are at low to no flow in Southern West Virginia and in Southwest Virginia. Some Local PSDs are continuing drought preparations. Some ground water wells are starting to dry up in Southern West Virgina. For the entire state of Kentucky 68 percent of topsoil was short or very short of moisture. In Northeast Kentucky, moisture levels have rebounded. Pasture and hay conditions have leveled out. Many farmers have started to cut back on supplementing feed for livestock and hauling water. Also, streamflows are still low to very low across the area. For the entire state of Ohio 50 percent of topsoil was short or very short of moisture. Moisture levels in corn and soybeans are low and vegetation is stressed in Gallia County. Pasture and hay conditions are starting to level out. Some farmers are planning or in the process of supplementing feed for livestock. In Southeast Ohio, some small streams are running low and with very low flows. For the entire state of Virginia 78 percent of topsoil was short or very short of moisture. In Buchanan and Dickenson Counties in Southwest Virginia, several small streams and creeks are at low to no flow. DROUGHT MITIGATION IMPACTS... In the southern half of West Virginia, Local PSDs are still making drought preparations or implementing drought plans. No other reports were noted from other PSDs in OH, KY or VA. All Major reservoirs are at normal levels for this time of year. All regulated mainstem rivers are at normal to slightly below normal streamflows for this time of year. Un-regulated rivers are running slightly below to below normal flows for this time of year. LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK... Drought conditions are expected to improve through the rest of this weekend and into next week. Weak storm systems are expected to move through the region Saturday night and early next week. The system early next week has the potential to produce a half to three quarters of an inch of rain in some areas. If this rain is realized, then improvements can be expected on the Drought Monitor through next week. NEXT ISSUANCE DATE... This product will be updated on October 24th or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in conditions. && RELATED WEB SITES... Additional information on current drought conditions may be found at the following web addresses: US Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu US Drought Information System: http://www.drought.gov NOAA Drought Page: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Drought Northeast Regional Climate Center...http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu ADDITIONAL RIVER INFORMATION... National Weather Service: http://water.weather.gov US Geological Survey: http://water.usgs.gov US Army Corps of Engineers: http://www.usace.army.mil ACKNOWLEDGMENTS... The Drought Monitor is a multi-agency effort involving the National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental Information...the USDA...state and regional center climatologists and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has been gathered from NWS and FAA observation sites... state cooperative extension services...the USDA...USACE and USGS. CONTACT INFORMATION... If you have questions or comments about this Drought Information Statement, please contact: National Weather Service 400 Parkway Rd. Charleston, WV 25309 Phone...304-746-0180 rlx.webmaster@noaa.gov $$