Drought in Kentucky, September 1 to 30, 1999

The severe summer drought took a major toll on crops and plants across West Kentucky. Rainfall at Paducah for the three-month period from July through September was about an inch and a half. This compares to a 3-month average of around 10 inches. Paducah received 0.66 inches in September, which was 3 inches below normal. The soybean crop sustained the greatest monetary losses, estimated near 70 million dollars. This was followed by tobacco losses near 50 million, and corn near 35 million. Total crop losses in western Kentucky were near 155 million dollars, which prompted an agricultural disaster declaration by the state and federal governments. The root systems of many shrubs and young trees were damaged by the drought. Some shrubs and shallow-rooted trees, such as dogwood and redbud trees, died during the summer. The unirrigated pumpkin crop was nearly a total loss. The fire danger reached extreme levels at times. A few of the largest fires reached 500 to 1000 acres in size. The largest fire occurred east of Central City in Muhlenberg County late in the month. This fire grew to almost 1000 acres, prompting the closure of the Western Kentucky Parkway for several hours. Another large fire, estimated around 500 acres, occurred in Hickman County early in the month. This fire, which may have been sparked by a passing train, burned quite a few corn and soybean fields. Finally, a 100-acre cornfield fire near Henderson closed the Pennyrile Parkway for about an hour and forced the brief evacuation of a nursing home. Burning bans were imposed in virtually all western Kentucky counties, including a campfire ban in the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The Kentucky Division of Water declared a Water Shortage Warning for the Pennyrile area, which includes the Owensboro and Hopkinsville areas. However, no mandatory water conservation measures were imposed. A secondary effect of the drought was premature leaf-drop, which reduced the brilliance of the fall colors. River levels on the Ohio River became unsafe for navigation in places. Fully loaded barges could not safely navigate the river, so tonnage was reduced by 10 to 20 percent.