Drought

A burn ban was in effect for Henderson County for 14 days and was adopted at the request of the fire marshal. KLTV-TV ABC 7 (Tyler, Texas), Aug 20, 2024

Residents of Celina were urged to be mindful of their water use. Authorities chose to shift the city to Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan on Friday, August 23, due to the high water demand. Celina Record (Texas), Aug 20, 2024

Some of the soybeans on a Coffee County farm were healthy, while others were brown and underdeveloped. Newschannel 5 Nashville (Tenn.), Aug 16, 2024

Heat and drought ruined the corn crop in Pitt County. Tropical Storm Debby brought 10 to 12 inches of rain, but it was too late to salvage the crop. The field crop agent with the NC Cooperative Extension Pitt County stated that 45% to 55% of the corn crop was lost statewide, and losses were even higher in Pitt County. WITN-TV NBC 7 (Greenville, N.C.), Aug 16, 2024

Drought affected Grand Strand golf course conditions and maintenance. Some courses have had to ration water, leaving some brown, burned-out areas. Only greens were watered at the golf courses where water was rationed. Arcadian Shores even cut their green fees. Courses in the city of Myrtle Beach and along the 501 corridor were driest, while courses on the north and south ends of the Grand Strand have largely received enough rain. On the Green Magazine (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina), July 13, 2024

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will continue to receive less in 2025 from the Colorado River after the U.S. government announced water cuts that guard the status quo. Based on the water level of Lake Mead, Arizona will again go without 18% of its total Colorado River allocation, while Mexico loses 5%. The reduction for Nevada — which receives far less water than Arizona, California or Mexico — will remain at 7%. The cuts were in the same “Tier 1” category that were in effect in 2024 and in 2022, when the first federal cutbacks on the Colorado River began. Even deeper cuts followed in 2023. Farmers in Arizona were most affected by those cuts. The Associated Press (New York), Aug. 15, 2024

Residents and businesses in Harrisonburg were asked to voluntarily conserve water after the city council declared a drought warning on Aug. 13. WHSV (Harrisonburg, Va.), Aug 19, 2024

Drought continued to damage and kill homeowners’ plants and lawns in Nitro. A gardener noted that tomato production has suffered. WOWK-TV CBS 13 (Huntington, W.V.), Aug 19, 2024

An apple orchard in Marietta uses irrigation water from a small pond, but drought and irrigation demands have shrunk the pond. The orchard owner has never seen the pond that low. WTAP (Parkersburg, W.V.), Aug 18, 2024

Drought advisories were lifted for much of Virginia after Tropical Storm Debby brought plenty of rain to the state. Charlottesville Daily Progress (Va.), Aug. 17, 2024 The drought warning advisory in Virginia has been expanded and includes 60 counties and cities, with 15 counties and cities no longer under a drought watch advisory, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. A drought warning advisory was in effect for the following regions: Big Sandy, Middle James, New River, Northern Piedmont, Northern Virginia, Roanoke River, Shenandoah and Upper James. A drought watch advisory was in effect for Eastern Shore, Middle James, Northern Coastal Plain and York-James. The drought watch advisory was lifted for Chowan and Southeast Virginia. WRIC-TV (Richmond, Va.), July 19, 2024

Thanks to ample rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby, the South Carolina Department of Resources downgraded 38 counties to normal status. Eight counties remained in incipient drought status. WIS 10 (Columbia, S.C.), Aug 14, 2024 The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources recognized counties in the Grand Strand and the Pee Dee River region as being in severe drought. Crops and livestock were affected by the dry weather. Streamflows were rapidly declining, and wildfires were occurring more frequently than usual. Early planted corn has died. Since June 1, the S.C. Forestry Commission responded to more than 200 wildfires that burned more than 1,200 acres. This is 77% higher than the 10-year average. The drastic shift from normal conditions to severe for the Grand Strand and the Pee Dee was unprecedented as June weather suddenly turned very dry and hot. Both the Pee Dee and Black River were nearing critically low levels WMBF-TV NBC (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), July 9, 2024

The Centennial Water and Sanitation District urged Highland Ranch and Mirabelle residents to be mindful of their water usage. Highlands Ranch Herald (Englewood, Colo.), Aug 16, 2024

Water levels were low across the Pittsburg district. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburg has seen low pools and low uncontrolled river flows, so the reservoirs were being used to boost river flows. Recreational impacts were evident at the Youghiogheny River Lake. Boat ramps were out of the water and people were unable to access other recreational components. KDKA News (Pittsburg, Pa.), Aug 15, 2024

Hoot-owl restrictions were issued for the Yellowstone River from the Highway 89 Bridge Fishing Access Site east of Livingston to the Highway 212 bridge in Laurel because water temperatures were high and flows were low. The restrictions took effect on July 27 and prohibit all fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight daily. KTVQ-TV Q2 (Billings, Mont.), July 26, 2024

Dry weather this summer in Kentucky has left hay growers with almost no regrowth. Cattle producers were worried about maintaining their livestock through the coming winter. Morning Ag Clips (Greenwich, N.Y.), Aug 15, 2024

Some maple tree leaves were beginning to wilt and turn brown, which normally would not happen for a couple of months yet. At Youghiogheny River Lake, a lot of creeks and rivers were rather dry. Water wasn’t flowing over the waterfalls. WWCP-TV FOX 8 (Johnstown, Pa.), Aug 2, 2024

The Homer City Borough and Central Indiana County Water Authority urged all water users to voluntarily conserve starting July 16. Indiana Gazette (Pa.), Aug 4, 2024

The Blairsville Municipal Authority issued a voluntary water conservation notice on July 22, asking customers to curb non-essential water use. Indiana Gazette (Pa.), Aug 4, 2024

Unity and Derry townships issued burn bans, which will remain in effect until further notice. Recreational fires and open burning were not allowed. KDKA (Pittsburgh, Pa.), July 31, 2024

Summer rainfall ended extreme drought for Belle Plaine. The water table rose six feet, but remained four feet below normal. Water restrictions remained in effect for the community. Southeast Iowa Union (Iowa), Aug 14, 2024