WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Persistent drought will trigger a few impacts down the road; here are things to keep in mind.
- The soil down to root zone (surface to 39 inches below the ground) is very dry and trees are dropping leaves early. During a large scale wind event or within individual gusty storms, expect more leaves than normal to fall off trees. Weaker-rooted trees and branches on those trees have a much better chance of toppling over/breaking during a thunderstorm that is not warned on because of high wind.
- Thunderstorms producing frequent cloud-ground lightning can more easily trigger a fire due to the dry ground.
- Heavy rain rates will more easily trigger flooding due to the rock hard ground.
- When rain returns, the grass (that hasn’t completely died off) will respond quickly and green up because grass roots are very shallow. Your lawn is a good indicator when a drying trend is commencing but NOT a good indicator when a drought is officially over. The soil far below the surface will stay bone dry until we get a pattern change that brings repeated rainfall.
- Even with a full recovery in the drought late this summer (which does not look hopeful), the fall foliage season will occur earlier with muted colors and much more leaf fall will occur before Bridge Day this year.
- The risk for wildfires is higher this fall season.
- Fruit trees for next year could be impacted by this year’s drought and less yield is possible next summer.
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