On the same day that rain arrived in the area, the Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet issued a Level 1 Drought Declaration for the commonwealth.
According to the energy and environment cabinet, a Level 1 dDought “indicates moderate to severe drought conditions have developed, primarily affecting soil moisture and vegetative health.” The cabinet says western and central Kentucky, along with parts of the Bluegrass region, are the hardest hit areas, with impacts to agricultural water needs and increased wildfire risk prevalent.
Widespread dryness intensified over the later half of the summer, with precipitation over the last two months spotty. These conditions prompted Hardin County last week to declare a burn ban.
“This is due to the dry conditions, the lack of rain that we have experienced in Hardin County,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “We are implementing the burn ban and we’ll carry on until we get some significant rain to help these dry conditions out. Counties around us are going to burn bans. It’s all across the state of Kentucky right now. We’re entering into a really dry season, so we’re just being proactive and trying to get ahead of it.”
The state climatologist’s office expects the drought conditions to continue for at least the near future.
