Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
2007-07-24
Section: City&Region
Edition: Final
Page: B1

Last week's rainfall was good for crops and helped out drought-wise, but there's still a long way to go in the state's rain shortfall.

Tom Priddy, an extension agricultural meteorologist at the University of Kentucky, said that last week was only the second of the growing season in which the entire state saw above-average rainfall. "That was a huge help for us, and we might see it put a dent in the hydrologic drought," Priddy said.

Data from the National Weather Service indicated that the Lexington area got about 2 inches of rain from Sunday, July 15, to Monday, July 23.

Lexington's average rainfall for the whole month of July is between 4.5 and 5 inches of rain.

"It's going to help, but the drought stems back to the beginning of the year," said Angie Lese, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Louisville.

According to the newest Palm Drought Severity Index, released yesterday by the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, drought conditions in two parts of the state improved. The Bluegrass and Western Kentucky regions both improved from severe to moderate drought. Central Kentucky remains in moderate drought and Eastern Kentucky remains in severe drought.

Priddy said the index shows that the Bluegrass region is now about 6.78 inches short of hydrologic normal, but about 8-12 inches short of the expected precipitation for the year.

The forecast shows that the area could get another round of rain.

"We do have scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast," Priddy said. "It looks like we have another good shot this week."

The rain looks most likely to affect Eastern Kentucky, and Priddy said that "it's still a very positive forecast."

He estimated that Eastern Kentucky could get anywhere from 1-2 inches in the next 10 days, though it won't be widespread.

"I don't think everyone's going to get it," Priddy said. "While not everyone may get some rain, the parts of the state that are in the deepest drought have a good chance."

Reach Dariush Shafa at (859) 231-1368 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1368.