Drought in Maryland, June 1 to 30, 1999

The drought intensified during the month of June across the Maryland Eastern Shore. The drought warning for the state of Maryland remained in effect. On a county weighted average June monthly precipitation averaged between 2.0 and 2.2 inches and was only about 55 percent of normal. The lack of rain added to the longer term precipitation shortages. By the end of the month the Palmer Drought Severity Index rated the entire state as being in moderate to extreme drought.Most crops were still in fair to good condition, but pastures needed additional moisture. About half the pastures in the state were rated as poor or worse. The one notable crop exception was soybeans. Because of the lack of rain, farmers stopped planting them and where they were planted, they were "in really big trouble". Farmers stated this was the earliest in the growing season that conditions were this dry in 50 years. By the end of the month about 2/3rds of the state's topsoil and 4/5ths of the state's subsoil was rated as being either short or very short of moisture. The ongoing drought had other affects beyond agriculture. Several municipalities started implementing water restrictions including Centreville, Saint Michaels and Preston. On June 8th, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a warning of high fire danger across the Eastern Shore. About 35 acres have burned the first week of June. Overheated farm equipment and debris burning were the leading causes. The DNR suggested farm machines be equipped with fire tools or fire extinguishers to minimize the danger. About 200,000 young fish of all represented species were killed in two Chesapeake Bay tributaries in late June and early July. Low oxygen levels caused by drought induced low streamflows were blamed for the deaths.