Drought is widespread and intense in the eastern United States: What you need to know

Rapid onset of drought developed across much of the eastern United States during June and persisted into July. (REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci)

More than a dozen of US statesfrom the valley of Ohio and the north of the Mid-Atlantic to the south, are under some level of droughtaccording to meteorologists federal. In some areas, the drought It is so serious that a state of emergency and other alerts are in effect.

A drought “sudden” – so described because of its rapid onset – developed across much of eastern USA during June and persisted into July. In early June, the drought affected only the south of Floridabut has since spread to an area spanning from Ohio until Georgia and several States surroundings.

The combination of record heat, lack of rain and intense sun fueled this drought sudden. In recent weeks, some areas of North Carolina, Georgia y Tennessee have recorded more regular rainfall, which has alleviated the drought. Still, rainfall remained patchy in July..

The combination of record heat, lack of rain and intense sunshine fueled the sudden drought. (REUTERS/Jordan Vonderhaar)

The drought more intense covers the area from the east of Virginia Occidentalthe northwest of Virginia and parts of western Maryland to the south-central part of Pennsylvania.

The region has seen relatively little rain in recent weeks, with much of it under a level 4 out of 5 drought “extreme,” which was expanded slightly over the past week to include parts of southern Pennsylvania. Eastern part of South Carolina It is also in drought extreme; the rest of the state is at level 3 out of 5 drought “severe”.

Many places in the east of USAeven those who are not considered in droughthave recorded rainfall deficits this summer, from the valley of Ohio until New England and to the south. The welcome rains of July brought several areas of the droughtbut many places have significant precipitation deficits since June 1.

Parts of eastern South Carolina are in extreme drought; the rest of the state is at a “severe” drought level. (REUTERS/Karen Braun)

-Mansfield, Ohio: since June 1, they have fallen 5.88 centimeters below normal.

– Elkins, West Virginia – have fallen 13.23 centimeters, that is, 13.36 centimeters below normal.

– Baltimore: 7.14 centimeters, 14.33 centimeters below normal.

– Charlottesville: they have fallen 7.07 centimeters, that is, 12.63 centimeters below normal.

Late last week, Republican Governor Jim Justice declared a state of emergency in Virginia Occidental. An alert was also announced for drought in the zone of Washington D.C. and other parts of Maryland.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture USA designated 15 counties in the Valley region Shenandoah and the western suburbs of D.C. as primary disaster areas eligible for emergency relief loans.

Many places in the eastern United States have seen precipitation deficits this summer, from the Ohio Valley to New England and southward. (File)

Farmers in the border regions of Virginia, Virginia Occidental y Maryland have been particularly affected. The owner of Higson’s Farm in Wiley Ford, West Virginia, told local media that it is “probably one of the driest years I have ever seen.”.

Further south, conditions have improved in much of North Carolina After an unprecedented dry month of June, but not so much in South Carolinawhere the drought The crisis remains particularly intense. The Small Business Administration announced Wednesday that disaster loans will be provided to several sectors affected by the crisis. drought over there.

June was historically dry across much of the Mid-Atlantic and in parts of the Southeast and the valley of the Ohio. In some areas of Virginia There was hardly any rain, while a dome of sun-baked heat spread across the region.

The August drought outlook suggests it will likely end around the periphery of the affected area. (EFE/Carlos de Saa)

The five driest cities in June include Cincinnati (second driest); Martinsburg, West Virginia (driest); Washington (fourth driest); Greensboro, North Carolina (fourth driest); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (second driest); y Macon, Georgia (third driest). Many places from Ohio until the Mid-Atlantic remained dry during the month of July.

In some places there has already been some relief, especially in the southeast and in the areas located to the east of the Interstate 95 until the Mid-Atlantic. The forecasts of the National Metereological Service Above-average rainfall is expected in much of eastern August. USA.

The perspective of the drought of August Meteorologic service suggests that it will probably end up around the periphery of the zone of drought and will improve elsewhere. This will become increasingly important As the region moves into late summer and fall, when the risk of wildfires increases.

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