Drought

Dry weather prompted officials in Spring Hill to issue a mandatory ban on outdoor burning, including the use of fire pits, until considerable rain falls to ease the fire danger. Spring Hill’s water storage tanks were also low after 58 days without rain, leading officials to prohibit the use of irrigation systems, due to difficulty maintaining water capacity. Nolensville also banned outdoor burning. Nashville Tennessean (Tenn.), Sept. 19, 2019

The Rutherford Fire Department announced a countywide burn ban on Sept. 16, due to the hot, dry weather and heightened fire danger. Murfreesboro Daily News Journal (Tenn.), Sept. 18, 2019

A Hopkins County judge issued a burn ban on Sept. 17, prohibiting all outdoor burning until further notice. A similar ban was also issued by the mayor of Madisonville for the city. The Messenger (Madisonville, Ky.), Sept. 19, 2019

The dry weather in Floyd County necessitates the use of irrigation where it is available. A farmer worried that her well would run dry or the pump would fail. WDBJ7 Roanoke News (Va.), Sept. 17, 2019

Heat and little rain caused the pumpkins at a Graves County farm to be smaller than usual, while other pumpkins were not growing at all. Typically, the vines would produce two to three cuttings, but not this year. There would also usually be many more leaves, but the weather caused the leaves to drop off, allowing the pumpkins to be sunburned. WPSD-TV Local 6 (Paducah, Ky.), Sept. 18, 2019

Stage one water conservation procedures were in effect for Canton and Clyde in Haywood County as little rain has fallen lately. my40.tv (Greenville, S.C.), Sept. 16, 2019

Plants and flowers at a farm in Haywood County were dried to a crisp unless they were watered, and even extra watering has not been enough to sustain some flowers. my40.tv (Greenville, S.C.), Sept. 16, 2019

Dry weather in Virginia has hurt crops and led livestock producers to feed hay early. In Powhatan County, a farmer reported that soybeans were suffering and his last cutting of hay would be light. He began feeding hay to cattle in mid-August. Several farmers in Franklin County have been feeding hay for more than two months. In Rockbridge County, pasture conditions were deteriorating rapidly as hot, dry weather depleted soil moisture. Augusta Free Press (Maine), Sept. 14, 2019

A burn ban was in effect for Mammoth Cave National Park, due to the dry weather. Park visitors may not light campfires or any open flame, but can still use camp stoves and grills. Bowling Green Daily News (Ky.), Sept. 19, 2019

Heat and drought in Talladega County made work difficult for field hands and prevented the planting of cold weather crops. Valdosta Daily Times (Ga.), Sept. 18, 2019

Drought and heat increased the fire danger in Alabama, prompting the state Forestry Commission to issue a Fire Danger Advisory for all counties. Residents were urged to avoid burning materials outdoors. Dothan Eagle & Dothan Progress (Ala.), Sept. 18, 2019

Many South Carolina farmers were concerned that drought would ruin their crops. In Aiken and Orangeburg counties, corn, cotton and peanut production looked to be halved. In Laurens County, pastures were gone, and producers had been feeding hay for more than a month. Valdosta Daily Times (Ga.), Sept. 18, 2019

Soybeans in Jackson County were beyond salvaging, even if rain fell. In Terrell County, peanut farmers were digging peanuts early while there was still enough soil moisture to harvest. Valdosta Daily Times (Ga.), Sept. 18, 2019

Tennessee’s burn permit season will begin early on Sept. 23, due to dry conditions. The Tennessee Division of Forestry normally requires burn permits from Oct. 15 through May 15. WATE-TV ABC 6 Knoxville (Tenn.), Sept. 19, 2019

Lack of rain and extreme heat were likely the reasons that numerous trees and shrubs were turning color and losing leaves early in the South Bend area. South Bend Tribune (Ind.), Sept. 16, 2019

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee on Sept. 18 recognized 31 of the state’s 46 counties as being in moderate drought. Valdosta Daily Times (Ga.), Sept. 18, 2019 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee removed the drought declaration for a number of counties, including Georgetown, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Colleton, Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton. Thirty-five counties remained in incipient drought. The committee will meet again in August. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), July 12, 2019 The S.C. Drought Response Committee met on June 13 and designated all but three counties as being in incipient drought. The three counties that are free of drought were Oconee, Pickens and Anderson. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), June 13, 2019 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee upgraded the drought status of all counties in the state. Eleven counties in the northwest entered incipient drought, affecting Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, York, Lancaster and Kershaw counties. The majority of the counties were recognized as being in moderate drought. Despite recent rainfall, irreversible damage to agriculture has already occurred. Some farmers were feeding hay to their livestock and were considering baling drought-stressed corn for cattle feed. The fire threat was elevated, water demand was at a record high in some areas and streamflows were unusually low. Department of Natural Resources (Columbia, S.C.), June 6, 2019 The S.C. Drought Response Committee recognized 15 counties in the southern part of the state as being in incipient drought. The affected counties are Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg. The public was urged to be very cautious if burning materials outdoors. Charleston Post & Courier (S.C.), May 15, 2019

Late planted cotton in Central Texas was badly stressed by the severe drought conditions, which affected much of the district. Dry conditions also prevented planting of winter grazing. Pastures remained in poor condition, and livestock were given supplemental feed. The Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Sept. 17, 2019 Late planted cotton in Central Texas was suffering and manifesting signs of heat and/or drought stress. Pasture conditions continued to deteriorate, and stock tanks were getting low. The rice crop failed. Rangeland conditions were poor to very poor. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

Pastures in Southeast Texas were browning as the region needed rainfall badly. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

Yakima Basin junior water rights holders will continue receiving 69 percent of their allotted allocations, an increase of two percentage points since July, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced on Aug. 16. Cooler weather in July allowed junior water rights holders to have just a little bit more water. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), Aug. 16, 2019 Junior water rights holders in the Yakima River basin will get an estimated 67 percent supply for irrigation after the Bureau of Reclamation updated its forecast. Senior water rights holders will still receive a full allotment. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), July 3, 2019 Junior water rights holders in the Yakima River Basin, including the Roza Irrigation District, were prorated to 72 percent as water supplies were low. The forecast will be updated on July 3. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), June 30, 2019 Water users in the Roza Irrigation District and other junior rights holders will receive 74 percent of their allotment through Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s June forecast. Low reservoir levels in October 2018, lower than normal winter runoff and below average mountain snowfall limited water supplies. Yakima Herald-Republic (Wash.), June 7, 2019

Drought conditions in central Alabama have resulted in more small fires as smokers carelessly discard cigarette butts, unaware of the rising fire danger. With October typically being the state’s driest month, drought could easily expand. WBRC-TV Fox 6 Birmingham (Ala.), Sept. 6, 2019