Drought

Drought has caused the level of Lake Afton to drop so low that a boat ramp was closed. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), June 7, 2023

Hay cuttings in Van Buren County in north central Arkansas were down a quarter to a third as dry weather took a toll. Hay growers were concerned about a second cutting or having to feed the first cutting of hay for lack of pasture growth. Hills were drying up quickly in the Jackson County area. Many water holes were dry, and non-diverse forage areas were struggling. Stuttgart Daily Leader (Ark.), June 6, 2023

Grass was growing more slowly in the St. Louis area, so lawn care companies were finding that lawns did not need to be mowed, which has cut into income. However, some people were watering their lawn and flowers more frequently to keep them looking nice amid the dry weather. KMOV (St. Louis, Mo.), June 6, 2023

A burn ban was issued for Sandy Township by the fire chief, due to severe drought conditions. GantDaily (Clearfield, Pa.) June 7, 2023

Williamsport and Old Lycoming Township also issued burn bans through June 16. Hepburn Township issued an immediate outdoor burning ban through June 16. Williamsport Sun-Gazette (Pa.), June 7, 2023

A burn advisory notice was issued for Lycoming County on June 6 as grass turned yellow and brown and fires were more common. Record low groundwater levels and stream levels, very dry conditions, and no significant rainfall in the forecast have elevated the potential for wildfires to “very high” throughout the county, according to the director of the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety. Williamsport Sun-Gazette (Pa.), June 7, 2023

Many blueberry growers in Van Buren County were irrigating to keep their blueberry crop looking good amid the drought. On the bright side, the hot, dry weather has limited the amount of fungus on the plants. WMUK (Kalamazoo, Mich.), June 7, 2023

Indianapolis’ water provider, Citizens Energy Group, encourages its customers to conserve water and limit lawn watering amid abnormally dry conditions. Indy Star (Indianapolis, Ind.), June 7, 2023

The Eastern Shore counties of Northampton and Accomack remained in a drought advisory, despite recent rainfall. The drought advisories for other parts of the state were lifted in mid-May. WESR-FM (Onley, Va.), June 7, 2023 The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued the drought watch advisory for five of the Drought Evaluation Regions due to current drought conditions and to make the public aware that dryness could pose a problem this year. The affected areas include 28 counties and 11 cities. These are the regions and localities in the advisory: Chowan: Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex counties, and the cities of Emporia and Franklin. Eastern Shore: Accomack and Northampton counties. Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, King George, King William, King and Queen, Essex, Richmond, Westmoreland, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, Lancaster, and Northumberland counties. Southeast Virginia: Isle of Wight County, and the cities of Suffolk, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. York-James: Charles City, James City, New Kent, and York counties, and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg. WCAV-TV (Charlottesville, Va.), April 26, 2023

Seeds were not germinating in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Corn and other row crops were struggling to get started. Hay growth was slow also, and grass was not recovering after cows grazed it. WV Metro News (Charleston, W.V.), June 6, 2023

Martin County commissioners enacted a burn ban on June 5, while a burn ban went into effect for Vermilion County on June 1. The Wabash Valley was very dry for lack of rain. WTWO TV (Terre Haute, Ind.), June 6, 2023

Lawns were going dormant in the Milwaukee area. A landscaping service called off all of their maintenance contracts, so they were not cutting any grass since growth had slowed. CBS58 (Milwaukee, Wis.), June 5, 2023

The fire chiefs of Margaretta, Oxford and Groton townships in Erie County have posted an open burning ban until conditions improve. FOX 8 News (Cleveland, Ohio), June 5, 2023

Crops and livestock in McHenry County were affected by the dry conditions. Pasture grass was not growing, and water sources were beginning to dry up. Farms could be in critical condition by June 10 if heavy rain does not fall, per a farmer. MyStateline.com (Rockford, Ill.), June 5, 2023

Young apple trees were visibly stressed by the dry weather, leading an orchard owner to begin irrigating the trees with pond water. He has also delayed planting corn and pumpkins until significant rainfall occurs. Cleveland 19 Online (Ohio), June 5, 2023

Parts of northeast Ohio have gone 16 days without rain. Some strawberry growers have had to irrigate as the berries need a lot of water before they are ready to be picked. A Valley View farm has a recorded message on their voicemail, notifying customers that strawberries and sweet corn may not be available. A hard March frost plus the hot, dry weather have devastated the berries. The corn, too, was struggling in the hot, dry weather. A Vermilion berry farm plans to reopen when the farm’s mid-season berry crop is ready. A Geauga County fruit farm is irrigating much more than usual to keep the fruit looking good. Cleveland.com (Ohio), June 5, 2023

A 30-day burn ban for York County took effect on June 5 as conditions were dry, stream and groundwater levels were low, and no significant rain was in the forecast. Local fire chiefs and a forest fire warden with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources were concerned about the fire danger and threat to life and property. KCUR-FM 89.3 (Kansas City, Mo.), June 5, 2023

Kansas wheat farmers were expected to harvest the smallest wheat crop since 1957 as drought hindered germination and growth of the crop. Kansas flour mills were anticipated to buy wheat from Eastern Europe for the first time. In some parts of the state, farmers do not see the crop as being worthy of harvesting, so they are spraying it with herbicide to kill it and collect insurance. One farmer noted that depression was evident among farmers with the ongoing drought and having to destroy the crop. KCUR-FM 89.3 (Kansas City, Mo.), June 5, 2023

The dry weather has made it difficult for Missouri farmers to get crops planted and keep crops watered. “We don't have hay. Our crops are not growing. In some places, farmers have even stopped planting beans. There is part of the state in Moniteau County, that area, there are a lot of farmers who haven't even finished planting their beans because it's so dry,” according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture director. KSDK Online (St. Louis, Mo.), June 1, 2023

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority and the North Wales Water Authority were urging their customers to conserve water due to low streamflows and the lack of rain. BCWSA provides retail and wholesale water services in Bucks County to Upper Southampton, Lower Southampton, Solebury, New Hope, Northampton, Newtown, Middletown, Langhorne, Penndel, Hulmeville townships. PhillyBurbs.com (Philadelphia, Pa.), June 2, 2023