Drought in Carter, Kentucky

May began with moderate drought (D1) in northeast Kentucky. By the third week of the month, conditions worsened to severe drought (D2) in Lawrence, southern Carter, and southern Boyd counties. Fortunately, enough precipitation fell the following week to confine D2 to far southern Lawrence. D1 improved to D0 in central Carter and Boyd, while drought was completely eliminated from Greenup, northern Boyd, and part of northern Carter County. Impacts included hauling water for livestock, supplemental feeding for livestock due to slow pasture growth, and slow crop growth.

Less than an inch of rain fell during the first half of the month. The second half of the month was much more active, with precipitation amounts ranging from three to eight inches across northeast Kentucky. This allowed for significant improvements to drought conditions.