11 November 2024
In late October all of Pennsylvania went right into a Drought Watch. We aren’t alone.
Each US state besides Alaska and Kentucky is going through drought, an unprecedented quantity.
Greater than 150 million individuals and 318 million acres of crops are affected by drought after a summer season of report warmth.
— Guardian: Almost all of US states are going through droughts, an unprecedented quantity
As of 5 November the drought is Extreme to Excessive in Southeastern Ohio, West Virginia, western Maryland and the southwestern nook of Pennsylvania.
The wonderful factor is that it took solely 4 months to get that manner.
In April the Monongahela River flooded the Duck Hole car parking zone — twice — once we had two downpour days of greater than 2.6 inches every.
Then it stopped raining in June and obtained exceptionally sizzling. A drought started in July that grew to become Extreme by the twenty third in West Virginia and western Maryland.
By late August the boating season was over at Youghiogheny River Lake as a consequence of low water. On 1 November when Judy Stark took these photos, the lake had dropped to this point that an previous bridge and the foundations of a submerged city had been revealed above low water.
In simply 4 months the Monongahela River switched from flood to drought. Because it flows from West Virginia to Pittsburgh, it’s helpful to take a look at precipitation in Morgantown, WV to know these extremes.
The graph under exhibits Morgantown’s 2024 month-to-month precipitation by way of yesterday, 10 November. Regular precipitation is in inexperienced, Precise is in blue. Discover it was at or above regular till July and severely under regular in September and October. (“Regular” precipitation in August got here in two downpours that ran off moderately than soaking in.)
Yesterday it rained within the Monongahela watershed for the primary time in weeks, an extended soaking rain that lasted all day. In Morgantown it accrued simply over an inch (1.02″) and was sufficient to match their month-to-date “regular” for November.
We’re so grateful for yesterday’s soaking rain however we’ll want greater than in the future to finish the drought.
Fingers crossed. Thursday seems good for rain.
