Brooke County Remains Under Drought Conditions Despite Rainfall

Despite some storms in the week and moderating temperatures, Brooke County and all of West Virginia remain under drought conditions.
According to the latest Drought Monitor map, Brooke County falls
falls partially in the severe drought classification, the third highest level on the map.
The monitor reports that last week 41.44 percent of the state was in the extreme or exceptional drought areas.
In the current week that figure had risen to 49.26 percent of the state.
In the 12 months that started Sept. 16, 2023, rainfall total 68.39 inches, compared to 74.77 inches in the preceding year.
While rainfall has been sparse, temperature have declined slightly form readings approaching 100 degrees to readings in the lower 90’s.
Forecasts are for significantly lower temperatures today but returning to the mid to upper 80’s next week.
There is no significant chance of rain for the next 10 days.
Exceptional drought condition are affecting with parts of Mason, Putnam, Jackson, Roane and Wood counties.
Gov. Jim Justice has extended the statewide State of Emergency for an additional 30 days due to a shortage of rainfall that has caused the drought conditions.
The U. S. Drought Monitor indicates extreme, severe and moderate drought conditions have continued to impact the entire state.
Gov. Justice also reminds agencies to utilize the Emergency Drought Relief Reimbursement Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to those helping secure and distribute irrigation and livestock water supplies in counties experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.
“This drought continues to plague our farmers, so we’re extending our State of Emergency to help get water to those who are in desperate need,” Justice said.
“Our farmers are truly the backbone of our state, and we understand the level of stress they’re experiencing because of these extreme conditions. We will not watch our hardworking farmers suffer because of uncontrollable factors. What we can control, however, is making sure they have the resources to get through this tough time. Our public agencies are working hard to deliver water, as needed. Our Emergency Management Division and the Department of Agriculture are working hard to secure disaster assistance. We are all pulling the rope together to get through this time. I promise, we will get through it together.”
For the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor was created in 1999, part of West Virginia has been listed under exceptional drought.
Parts or all of several counties were listed as being under extreme drought: Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Logan, Boone, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Gilmer, Braxton, Webster, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur, Lewis, Doddridge, Harrison, Barbour, Taylor, Marion and Tucker counties.
Most of the rest of the state was under severe drought, while part of the Eastern Panhandle was under moderate drought, and small tips of the far north and southwest were abnormally dry.
“According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 100 percent of West Virginia’s topsoil and subsoil moisture was rated short or very short (dry or very dry), and 92 percent of the pastures and rangeland were in poor to very poor condition,” reported the Drought Monitor, produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the USDA.
“This is a record high percentage of topsoil moisture short or very short in the 22-year record for West Virginia, and a record low statewide pasture and range condition index. Reports have been received of widespread crop loss and water hauling for livestock and irrigation, pastures/meadows not regenerating, low streamflow, and dry soils,” the Drought Monitor reported.