(8-22-24) The National Weather Service in Wilmington released the latest drought conditions around Ohio…Southeastern Ohio was the drought epicenter for the region, where abnormal dryness and moderate to extreme drought expanded. Abnormal dryness expanded in northern Indiana and northeast Illinois. But abnormal dryness and drought contracted in other areas, including Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Drought impacts, that were reported in Ohio, include no growth on pastures, creeks and private wells running dry, low ponds, farmers and ranchers hauling water and feeding hay, some soybean and corn fields completely gone, trees losing leaves, and low intensity woodland wildfire activity. According to USDA data, 57% of the topsoil and 65% of the subsoil in Ohio is short or very short of moisture.

Mercer and Auglaize Counties and several other northwest Ohio counties are listed in the DO range abnormally dry area.