Part of West Virginia in ‘exceptional drought,’ new monitor says

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Drought conditions in West Virginia have gotten even worse since last week , according to the new drought monitor released Thursday.

Part of the Mid-Ohio Valley area is now in exceptional drought (D4), which is the most severe drought category. This is the first time that West Virginia has seen a D4 rating since the U.S. Drought Monitor started back in the 1990s.

The new map from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) also says that the area of West Virginia that is in extreme drought—which is one category lower—has expanded along the Ohio River as well as further into the Monongahela National Forest.

Wednesday night, a fire was reported in the Monongahela National Forest amid extremely dry conditions. According to a social media post from the Forest Service , smoke may still be visible in the Cass and Green Bank areas from the “Train Track Incident,” which burned 3-5 acres before it was contain by Forest Service personnel and volunteer firefighters in the area.

The whole state remains under a State of Emergency related to the drought as its effects continue to been seen across West Virginia. In Randolph County, a “fish kill” has been reported in the Tygart Valley River , and low water has caused recreation areas like Tygart Lake , Stonewall Lake , and Summersville Lake to issue warnings for law water and even close some services. Some major West Virginia landmarks like Cathedral Falls are completely dried up .

Currently, 35.7% of the state is at risk for major crop and pasture loss, and many farmers have already seen the effects .

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