Paul Patras, Staff Writer

Ohio has recently been experiencing record-low amounts of rainfall, this drought began in the early summer and has now gone far into late September.

A typical drought is defined as high heat and low precipitation in an area for a prolonged period of time. In Ohio, places like Cincinnati and Cleveland are almost four to five inches below the average amount for rainfall, leading to considerably dry conditions. Droughts are categorized on a five-point scale ranging from D0 to D4. Right now, the eastern portions of Ohio range from abnormally dry (D0) to moderately dry in cities like Brewster and Lisbon Ohio. The worst conditions can be felt in SE Ohio, where the drought is rated severe to extreme. The worst of these conditions can be felt in and around Athens and Pike County.

Almost 80% of Ohio is in a moderate drought while around geographically, 95% of the entire state is facing conditions that could be qualified as drought-like. These conditions have only worsened in the past few weeks. Ohio has 88 counties, and according to the drought monitor readings, around 87 of these counties are under some form of drought-like conditions. Most of these conditions worsen towards the eastern parts of the state. 

The drought has had an extremely adverse effect on eastern Ohio, especially in places dependent on agriculture is common. This is because the dryness affects livestock and crops alike, making work a nightmare for farmers for the past few months. 

Soybeans are the most exported agricultural goods in all of Ohio and with this drought, not only is it becoming harder to grow them, water them, and maintain the crop, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to sell them. As supply is lowering for soybeans, the price is rising. 

For other farmers, the drought is a nightmare for raising livestock because of the heat. The heat can cause irritated behavior in animals, as well as prevent the growth of grass causing what is known as “dormant lawns.” where the practice of feeding livestock becomes exponentially more difficult as they have less grass to eat.

For Xavier students, while the effects of the drought may not be as noticeable here as in more eastern counties of Ohio, the high temperatures and general lack of rain can be felt here on campus, where the temperatures have been in the 80s and do not seem to be letting up. 

As time has gone on, the drought conditions have not improved significantly as the drought perimeter has spread to places in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. With rain being scarce on the forecast and any chances for rain coming from storm Francine dwindling, there is currently no sign of this drought breaking.