"Abnormally Dry" continues

When ordering tree seedlings for an Appalachian Regional Commission project the state nursery referred to us as the West Virginia desert.  We're still officially "abnormally dry" in Hampshire County, but there's no substantive moisture in the future.

from Nottingham, MD:



NOTTINGHAM, MD—A significant lack of recent rain, and unusual late season heat, have led to the development of “flash drought” conditions across a large portion of the area.

The National Weather Service says that the short-term dryness and heat have quickly overcome the long- term record wetness the region experienced between April 2018 and the early summer of 2019, and impacts from this short-term dryness are rapidly increasing.

A United States Drought Monitor (USDM) report released on Thursday, September 26, indicates rapidly-deteriorating conditions. Moderate Drought (D1) is now indicated across portions of the
following counties in Maryland: Harford, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Saint Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert.

Many locations throughout the region have seen above normal temperatures in every month this year since April. Most areas have had less than a half inch of rain in the month of September, and in some places that all fell at once.

Impacts are quickly building as a result of the heat and dry conditions. The earliest impact was to lawns and gardens, which have largely browned and growing has ceased. Soil moisture has also taken a substantial hit. Analysis from multiple sensors indicates a severe soil moisture deficit, with rankings below the 10th percentile for this time of year, especially in the DC metro area.

Agricultural interests are reporting drought-related stresses on pastures and hayfields, as well as crop stress to soybeans and other late-planted grains. Other crops such as corn and apples are reported to be faring well.


Streamflows, which had been running seasonably high much of the summer thanks to the long period of heavy rain, are also now responding to the dry conditions. Many locations are now below normal — and normal in September and October is usually the lowest point of the year anyway.