By Stephen Smoot
In the winter months, West Virginia received healthy amounts of precipitation. Heavy rains drenched the region in spring and early summer with little relief.
Now “healthy” and “heavy” have petered away to “hardly any.” As a result, the Mountain State faces reentry into drought conditions battled for much of 2024. Drier conditions have brought the depletion of water in streams, as well as the onset of brush fires in some of the drier areas.
According to the official federal government website Drought.gov, West Virginia has seen its second driest August since recordkeeping commenced in 1895.
After the update of conditions last Thursday, the National Weather Service has shared that Pendleton County is experiencing drought conditions.
West Virginia’s most significant area of drought centers on Webster and Randolph counties. Most of those two, plus sections of eight other Mountain State counties have hit D-3 Extreme Drought status. D-3 indicates a strong chance of “major crop/pasture losses, extreme fire danger, widespread water shortages or restrictions.”
None of Pendleton County has currently reached D-3 conditions, but the northern section around the Onego area has hit D-2 Severe Drought. Under these conditions, the NWS reports that “crop or pasture loss likely, fire risk very high, water shortages common, water restrictions imposed.”
The remainder of Pendleton County is seeing D-1 Moderate Drought, which indicates “some damage to crops, pastures, fire risk high, streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortage developing or imminent.”
During the next seven days, the NWS forecasts daytime highs in the 70s and 80s for most of the county, but 60s in the highest elevations. Fortunately, the forecast calls for strong chances of rain through the end of this week.
Streamflow gauges on the South Branch River in Franklin and South Fork River in Brandywine show “normal” levels, as does the gauge on the South Branch River at Petersburg. The North Fork River gauge, east of the Grant County seat, registers that streamflow is “much below” on that river. The North Fork will soon see improved reporting with the installation of new gauges.
The NWS drought page, despite the coming of rain in the next several days, still predicts that area drought conditions will worsen and persist moving forward.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture offered guidance to livestock producers last week, encouraging them to “take proactive steps . . . to prevent long-term damage.” To protect pasturelands, “WVDA recommends confining cattle if feeding hay and reducing grazing pressure until rainfall improves conditions.”
It goes on to state that “overgrazing during drought can weaken forage stands, making it difficult for pastures to recover.” The WVDA, however, offers “fencing from conservation district offices to help confine animals and prevent damage.” Other relief programs may be approved if conditions persist.
