Drought in Fulton, Kentucky

The west Kentucky climate division experienced their driest Nov-Mar on record with only 9.61, which was 11.32 below normal, leading to far southern portions of the Jackson Purchase in West Kentucky entering Severe (D2) Drought at the very end of March. A very warm April, with temperatures running 7-8 degrees F above normal, along with April precipitation slightly below normal, and especially a soil moisture ranking near the 1st percentile, resulted in intensification of drought through April. At the end of April, the southern Jackson Purchase was in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought with drought continuing into May. Agricultural impacts primarily took the form of earlier than normal planting and very low farm pond levels. Subsoil and topsoil conditions remained quite poor.