Drought in Marshall, Kentucky

The west Kentucky climate division experienced their driest Nov-Mar on record with only 9.61, which was 11.32 below normal, leaving much of west Kentucky in Moderate (D1) Drought at the very end of March. This included the northern Jackson Purchase area, the Lakes region, and the Pennyrile. A very warm April, with temperatures running 7-8 degrees F above normal, along with April precipitation 1-2in. below normal, and especially a soil moisture ranking near the 1st percentile, resulted in intensification of drought through April. At the end of April, most of west Kentucky 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.