State officials announced Thursday the Level 1 Drought Declaration issued last month for all 120 Kentucky counties has been removed, due to the recent rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
The Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in coordination with the Kentucky Drought Mitigation Team, say recent precipitation from the remnants of Hurricane Helene have eliminated rain deficits and improved stream flows and soil moisture levels.
The drought declaration was issued on Sept. 23, when moderate to severe drought conditions had developed statewide. Since that time, several days of precipitation from the remnants of Hurricane Helene have eased conditions. The light to moderate precipitation over several days allowed for water to infiltrate into the soil column, returning soil moisture to pre-summer levels.
Stream flows have returned to normal and there are no current concerns with drinking water supplies. The Kentucky Division of Water will continue to monitor water supplies throughout the state.
The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor issued on Thursday morning also shows a vast improvement in Kentucky, although some drought still remains, in the areas that were hardest hit.
The latest Monitor report shows around 60 percent of Kentucky has no drought. That compares with only six percent in that category last week.
39 percent of the state is considered “Abnormally Dry,” or D0 on the scale that goes up to D4 for “Exceptional Drought.” That is up from last week’s 27 percent, due to improvement in the more serious drought categories.
Only one percent of Kentucky is now designated to be in “Minor Drought,” or D1, and is restricted to all of Boyd, as well as portions of Carter and Lawrence counties. That is a massive decrease from the 36 percent in the previous report.
Last week, 28 percent of Kentucky had Severe Drought (D2) and three percent was considered Extreme Drought (D3). This week, no part of the state is designated in either of those two categories.
The drought relief may not last, however, as the long-range forecast from the Climate Prediction Center covering the period through October 12, shows a return to drier than usual conditions across Kentucky, although temperatures will be near or slightly below normal.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced through a partnership between the NDMC, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Data is collected each Tuesday morning, with the report issued on Thursday.
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
