Northern Ohio counties now officially in drought conditions

CLEVELAND - You knew it by looking at your water bill and your wilted perennials. The lack of rain, the dry soil. Northern Ohio is now officially suffering from a drought.

According to the National Climate Prediction Center , northern Ohio is suffering from short-term drought. Several areas are even in a long-term drought as well.

The data is for the week ending June 9, 2012. It shows all of northern Ohio under extreme short-term drought conditions. That is, a severe lack of rainfall/ground moisture over the last month.  On top of that, several counties are also in long-term moderate to severe drought conditions.

As of June 9, the Palmer Drought Index shows the worst long-term drought conditions (drier than normal conditions for several months) currently in the Northeast Hills of Ohio. That is, in Mahoning, Stark, Tuscarawas, Carroll and Columbiana counties. The drought is considered " SEVERE " in these areas. It will take almost 8 inches of rain to end the drought. 

The Central Hills area of Ohio (Wayne, Holmes, Coshocton, Richland and Ashland counties) is close behind. Its rainfall deficit is about 6 inches. That's considered a MODERATE Drought.

Other counties, such as Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, Geauga, Summit, Portage, Ashtabula and Trumbull counties are also in a MODERATE drought now. It will take about 5 inches of rain to end the drought in these counties.

The only counties in our viewing area NOT considered in a drought are Lorain, Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky & Seneca Counties. Soil moisture here is only slightly below normal.

Unfortunately, the drought will likely continue at least in the short term. The forecast calls for dry conditions through the rest of this week with temperatures in the 80s. Time to turn on the hose, again.