11 November 2024
In late October all of Pennsylvania went into a Drought Watch. We are not alone.
Every US state except Alaska and Kentucky is facing drought, an unprecedented number.
More than 150 million people and 318 million acres of crops are affected by drought after a summer of record heat.
— Guardian: Nearly all of US states are facing droughts, an unprecedented number
As of 5 November the drought is Severe to Extreme in Southeastern Ohio, West Virginia, western Maryland and the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania.
The amazing thing is that it took only four months to get that way.
In April the Monongahela River flooded the Duck Hollow parking lot — twice — when we had two downpour days of more than 2.6 inches each.
Then it stopped raining in June and got exceptionally hot. A drought began in July that became Severe by the 23rd in West Virginia and western Maryland.
By late August the boating season was over at Youghiogheny River Lake due to low water. On 1 November when Judy Stark took these pictures, the lake had dropped so far that an old bridge and the foundations of a submerged town were revealed above low water.
In just four months the Monongahela River switched from flood to drought. Since it flows from West Virginia to Pittsburgh, it’s useful to look at precipitation in Morgantown, WV to understand these extremes.
The graph below shows Morgantown’s 2024 monthly precipitation through yesterday, 10 November. Normal precipitation is in green, Actual is in blue. Notice it was at or above normal until July and severely below normal in September and October. (“Normal” precipitation in August came in two downpours that ran off rather than soaking in.)
Yesterday it rained in the Monongahela watershed for the first time in weeks, a long soaking rain that lasted all day. In Morgantown it accumulated just over an inch (1.02″) and was enough to match their month-to-date “normal” for November.
We’re so thankful for yesterday’s soaking rain but we’ll need more than one day to end the drought.
Fingers crossed. Thursday looks good for rain.
OTHER USERS BOUGHT THIS!!!
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