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From Drenched to Bone Dry, Kentucky is a
Tale of Two Climates
By
Aimee Nielson
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (Feb. 28, 2007) – From drenched and muddied fields in the
west to parched and dry conditions in the east, Kentuckians are
facing climate challenges that will impact summer crops and put
forests at risk of fires.
“With all the rain in the western part of the state, it’s hard
to believe the eastern half of the state is in moderate
drought,” said Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture meteorologist. “But it’s true; some eastern parts of
the state are as many as 6 to 10 inches below normal rainfall.”
Priddy said the predominant storm track throughout the winter
months has resulted in much drier than normal conditions across
eastern Kentucky, while areas to the north and west have
experienced ample to excessive rains. He said the jet stream
virtually has split Kentucky into two different weather
scenarios.
Autumn rains in western Kentucky made the harvest challenging,
and the fields remained very muddy, even into the New Year. UK
Soils Specialist Lloyd Murdock said the difficulty may be
finding a time when the land will be dry enough to smooth it out
and have it back in shape for the coming planting season.
 Forest
fire season officially began Feb. 15, and despite above-average
rainfall amounts throughout Kentucky, UK Extension Forestry
Specialist Doug McLaren warned Kentuckians to not let Mother
Nature fool them. He said its one of the most vulnerable time
for the state’s forests.
The reason for the increased fire potential is simple, McLaren
said. Because of the lack of foliage on deciduous trees during
this time, solar radiation can quickly dry out the leaves and
twigs on the ground. Add to that the high winds associated with
low humidity levels, and the debris on the forest floor becomes
a fast-burning fuel. Priddy added that recent figures putting
eastern parts of the state in moderate drought status just
complicates the situation and makes conditions for forest fires
even more favorable.
“Due to the dry conditions, the latest edition of the U.S.
Drought Monitor issued on Feb. 22 places most areas south of the
Mountain Parkway in moderate drought conditions,” he said. “The
remainder of the area is classified as experiencing abnormally
dry conditions. Rainfall deficits across the area since Nov. 1
range from 1 to 2 inches along and north of Interstate 64 to
between 6 and 10 inches south of the Mountain Parkway.”
He added that at the Jackson National Weather Service Office
8.27 inches of precipitation have fallen since Nov 1. This is
6.46 inches below the normal amount for the period. Similar
conditions exist at the London Corbin Airport where a 6.51-inch
deficit has accumulated since Nov. 1.
“From November through February, eastern Kentucky has seen just
over 50 percent of normal rainfall amounts,” Priddy said. “This
includes the water equivalent of the recent snowfall. The below-
normal precipitation has led to below, to much below normal
river and stream flows across eastern Kentucky.”
In contrast, the latest Palmer Drought Severity Index states
western Kentucky is in a “very moist spell” and the crop
moisture situation is “too wet, some standing water.” The same
index reports central Kentucky and the Bluegrass regions are in
“unusual moist spells” with “prospects above normal, some fields
too wet.”
Looking forward, Priddy forecasts El Niņo fading away to near
normal conditions in the equatorial Pacific over the next couple
months. This will allow the jet stream to return to a more
normal position and minimize the split flow to one flow pattern.
“What this means for Kentucky is a return to more normal weather
patterns as we move into spring,” he said. |
Contact: Tom Priddy,
859-257-3000, ext. 245 |
|
The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
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