The latest predications released Thursday show the Upper Cumberland will likely enter drought conditions during the next several weeks.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Reagan said the Fall season is typically the Upper Cumberland’s driest time of the year. Reagan said a dry August has led to a drier September than normal. Reagan said the region is already seeing issues due to minimal rain.
“Especially West of the plateau, but those conditions are starting to spread East,” Reagan said. “And unfortunately, our long-term, our three to four week outlook is favoring lower than normal precipitation and above average temperatures, so that’s not a good combination when we are talking about drought.”
The U.S. Drought Monitor from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center anticipating drought conditions to develop over the next three months in the Upper Cumberland. Reagan said the upcoming drought conditions are a big concern for the region.
“It will be something that we have to pay attention to, especially when we are talking about fire weather conditions,” Reagan said. “You know, if we get these really dry conditions and then we get a front coming through later on in the Fall with some strong winds that can cause some prime fire weather conditions.”
Reagan said there will be less than usual precipitation. Reagan said even though it may rain occasionally, it is still not enough to relieve the drought conditions.
“If you get a shower here or there, where you pick up a tenth of an inch, you know, that might help the grass green out for a couple of days, but that doesn’t soak in very deep into the ground, and it doesn’t really help the bigger vegetation such as trees.”
