Drought in Maryland, July 1 to 31, 1999

High pressure was the dominant weather feature across Maryland during the month. This forced most rain producing storm systems to steer north of the region and resulted in the continuation of the climatological, meteorological, and hydrological drought that has plagued the area since since last summer. The average monthly high temperature at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) of 91.4 degrees was just shy of the 91.9 degree record. Record highs were set on the 5th and 6th, and temperatures rose above 90 degrees on 22 of the 31 days. By the last week of July the Palmer Drought Index, a measure of long term drought conditions, indicated Maryland was in an extreme drought. The drought warning issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment in December remained in effect through the month. The governor issued a satellite drought emergency on the 29th. July was the 14th month in the past 16 months that precipitation was below normal. From August 1998 through July 1999 precipitation was a staggering 16 inches below average, the 2nd driest 12 month period on record. Only 2.06 inches of rain fell at BWI during the month of July, 1.63 inches below normal. The Maryland Science Center at Inner Harbor Baltimore reported 4.11 inches for the month, but 3.57 inches of the total fell on the 22nd. Additional July rainfall totals included Allegany County at 1.1 inches, Washington County at 2.0 inches, Frederick County at 1.4 inches, Prince Georges County at 0.7 inches, Carroll County at 3.5 inches, Anne Arundel County at 2.0 inches, and St. Mary's County at 1.8 inches. The lack of rainfall affected water levels along the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. In the Potomac watershed where below normal water levels have been recorded for the past 11 months, several record low daily flows were recorded. The flow of water past the Washington D.C. age was only 18% of the long term monthly average. The low water level forced the town of Brunswick in Frederick County to cancel their annual Great River Race. For the first time water was released from the Randolph and Little Seneca Reservoirs near the Potomac headwaters on July 11th and 15th respectively to help maintain a safe water level for wildlife and human consumption. By July 31st, the Jennings Randolph Reservoir was 13.8% below capacity and the Little Seneca Reservoir was down 4 inches. The Cranberry Reservoir serving the Westminster area was near record low flow. In the city of Cumberland, Lake Gordon and Lake Koon were both 11 inches below the spillway. Officials in Frostburg reported the Piney Dam was 8 inches low. Liberty Reservoir, one of the main water sources for 1.8 million people in the Baltimore area, was 24 feet below normal and was holding less than half of its 43 billion gallon capacity. The Pretty Boy Reservoir was down 18 feet and the Loch Raven Reservoir was down 5 feet. A combination of water from these three reservoirs showed only a 35 day supply of water left for the Baltimore area by the end of July. The two main reservoirs serving Montgomery, Howard, and Prince Georges Counties, the Tridelphia and T. Howard Duckett Reservoirs were down 35% and 58% respectively by July 31st. Nearly 60 communities across the state instituted mandatory or voluntary water restrictions. Several Frederick County towns and the town of Bel Air imposed mandatory water restrictions to reduce the strain on reservoirs and wells. About 12% of Mary'land's population depend on wells for water. The community of Point of Rocks had to pull two of its four wells off-line because sediment appeared in the water. In Harford County, 30 homes experienced well failures and Deer Creek was at a critically low level. The total fresh water flow into the Chesapeake Bay from tributaries has been below average for the past 11 months and hovered around a record low for a third consecutive month. The deficit of fresh water resulted in an increase of salinity levels in the bay and had a noticeable impact on wildlife. Hundreds of fish died from lack of fresh water and the jellyfish population was much higher than normal. A popular swimming beach at Greenbriar State Park near Hagerstown had to be closed for the summer after rain never came to fill the 50 acre reservoir. Closing the beach for the summer resulted in $120,000 in lost revenues. The lack of precipitation was devastating to the agricultural community. 68% of pasture land, 36% of corn, 19% of sorghum, 24% of tobacco, and 17% of soybeans across the state were reported in poor or very poor condition. 87% of topsoil and 92% or subsoil were reported as short or very short of moisture by the end of the month. Washington County reported 80% of the county's crop land was under moderate to severe drought stress. Frederick County reported at 90% loss of crops and Howard County reported a loss of 60%. Vegetable farmers in Carroll County reported crop losses of 50%. Harford County was hit especially hard because agriculture is the number one industry. County officials reported a 60% pasture loss, 60% sweet corn loss, and 50% loss of fruits and vegetables. Corn was only a third of its normal size and was not pollinating. Cows suffered from the lack of water and persistent heat and produced 20% less milk. In addition to agricultural lands, forests and rural vegetation were also dangerously dry. The number of wild fires doubled across Maryland from last year because of the drought.