FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) — Hot and dry August weather has pushed much of Kentucky into abnormally dry conditions, with some regions now experiencing moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s weekly report released Thursday.
On August 5, less than 5% of the state was classified as “Abnormally Dry” (D0) on the drought scale, which ranges from D0 to D4 (extreme drought). The rest of Kentucky showed no drought. However, the latest report reveals that 75.81% of the state is now considered abnormally dry.
Moderate drought (D1) first appeared in the August 21 report, affecting 6.21% of the state. In the current update, that figure has risen to 11.18%, impacting primarily South Central and Southwest Kentucky, with a smaller affected area in the Northeast. The U.S. Drought Monitor estimates that 257,757 Kentuckians live in these D1 regions.
In the broader Midwest, where Kentucky is grouped, Brad Rippy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that by August 24, topsoil moisture rated “very short to short” reached:
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66% in Kentucky
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55% in Michigan
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51% in Ohio
Other states, including Illinois and Indiana, also recorded over 40% in similar conditions. Rippy noted that despite cooler weather, abnormal dryness (D0) and moderate drought (D1) have expanded from Missouri into the Ohio Valley and Lower Great Lakes region.
There is some relief ahead, according to the National Weather Service’s 6-10 day outlook issued Wednesday. For September 2-6, temperatures across Kentucky are expected to remain below normal, especially in the West, with a 33-40% chance of above-average rainfall statewide.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced through a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center, the USDA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Reports are issued every Thursday, covering data from the previous seven days through Tuesday morning.
