12/9/2024
WT Staff
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December 9, 2024 1155 am EST
Severe drought expanding, rain forecast downgraded
Streamflow Situation from the network of USGS river monitoring sites in Ohio
Overcast, 51 with a 30% chance of rain before noon, the forecast from NWS Cleveland calling for patchy fog tonight and 70% chance of rain showers tomorrow, likely between 8am and 4pm, less than a tenth of an inch is possible. Wilmington forecast center also reporting overcast this hour, 54 degrees with a slight chance of rain, 20% for today. Rain is more likely tomorrow, 60% chance for the south to see those showers Tuesday afternoon between 1pm and 5pm, not enough to shift the drought, less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Streamflows are variable today, still mostly below normal statewide with a two sites in Lake Erie basin recording much above seasonal normal, even a record high water level for this date found in a tributary creek of the Cuyahoga River. Upper Muskingum River basin is also tracking a flow level above the 90th percentile, much above seasonal normal, while the remaining watersheds of the Ohio River-Mississippi basin run mostly below normal. As of this report there are two monitoring sites with record low flows, 1st percentile.
Taking a look at the Ohio drought map, there are now three watersheds unrated, up from two yesterday. Lower Great Miami River in the southwest, Ashtabula-Chagrin River watershed in the northeast and Wills Creek watershed in the central Muskingum River basin are not rated with drought. The 29 remaining watersheds are rated, at the very least, below normal. The driest areas are rated severe drought, five watersheds have this distinction. St Josephs and Tiffin River in the northwest, Sandusky River watershed in north central Ohio, Wheeling Creek watershed of the Ohio River minor tributaries and Little Muskingum River watershed are all severe drought. Moderate drought ratings apply in five more watersheds including the Upper Great Miami River, Cedar-Portage, Lower Maumee in the northwest, Walhonding River watershed in the Muskingum River basin central Ohio, and Shade River watershed, one of the Ohio River minor tributaries. Outside these drought ratings, all other watersheds are rated below normal moisture conditions with the exception of the three mentioned unrated earlier.
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