WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): The heat and dry weather are working in tandem to dry out the soil and the area rivers and streams.
The river and stream levels are declining and an analog year to this summer is 1964. Rainfall was very scarce and temperatures actually cooler than average during that summer. What we are seeing this summer is that a bit more rain than the summer of 1964 was offset by much above average temperatures. The heat dries the soil readily, so it offsets the even drier summer we had in 1964.
A pattern bringing frequent weather systems and lots of clouds and cooler temperatures in between systems is the key to ending the drought. The upcoming pattern offers an occasional shower or thunderstorm, which will only keep the drought from getting worse.
