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 Table 1.—P:1lmer Drought Index Values (PDI) by Month, 1929-7 1, Western Climatic Division, Kentucky.
 
1929 .14 .37 — .74 - .82 1.27 1.39 1.04 1.10 2.01 2.11 2.02 2.00
1930 2.59 — .16 -1.11 -2.12 -2.52 -2.82 -4.01 -4.51 -4.23 -4.20 -4.69 -5.39
1931 -5.72 -5.84 -5.56 -5.00 -4.79 -4.59 -4.55 .75 .29 .14 .13 .54
1932 1.54 1.20 1.19 1.13 - .99 -1.10 -1.17 .28 1.06 1.65 1.45 2.39
1933 2.06 2.22 2.59 2.89 3.31 2.05 2.87 2.27 2.58 2.55 - .49 - .26
1934 -1.05 -1.15 -1.06 -1.55 -2.11 .36 .23 .67 2.14 1.57 1.56 1.46
1935 1.51 .80 2.58 2.60 3.08 4.66 4.38 - .05 — .31 - .16 - .32 - .65
~ 1936 -1.20 -1.50 -1.53 - .91 -1.73 -2.61 -3.16 -3.96 - .01 .18 .09 .28
1937 3.27 — .49 -1.46 1.00 - .56 - .40 - .34 - .63 - .79 1.07 - .28 - .18
1938 — .39 - .76 - .20 -1.01 .37 .47 2.26 2.66 2.61 1.90 1.65 1.08
1939 1.34 2.70 2.44 3.29 — .67 - .52 — .55 - .67 -1.67 -1.99 -2.60 -3.22
_ 1940 -3.56 -3.09 -2.83 -1.80 -1.72 -1.64 -1.90 -1.85 -2.25 -2.90 -2.66 -2.66
1941 -2.92 -3.42 -4.14 -4.62 -5.22 -5.27 -4.58 -4.25 -4.88 -3.63 -3.62 -3.78
1942 -3.61 -3.33 -2.01 -2.74 -2.69 -2.54 -2.65 .86 .72 .82 .93 .97
1943 - .86 -1.52 .89 .63 1.00 - .31 - .85 -1.71 -1.26 -1.57 -2.17 -2.86
1944 -3.50 -3.24 -2.91 -2.18 -2.39 -2.96 -3.62 -3.30 -2.95 -3.43 -3.59 -3.33
1945 -3.25 .81 1.44 1.68 1.93 2.72 2.32 2.02 2.48 2.37 2.52 2.23
1946 1.98 2.54 - .63 -1.40 .72 .14 .07 .69 .31 .18 .41 .43
1947 .46 -1.00 -1.44 .83 1.30 1.42 - .07 — .20 .06 .18 - .09 — .56
1948 - .96 .15 .70 .19 .19 .10 1.72 .17 .25 .35 1.84 2.51 V
1949 3.01 3.48 3.66 2.72 1.97 2.33 1.82 2.33 2.11 3.37 2.70 3.37
1950 4.80 5.30 4.71 4.35 4.34 4.55 5.24 6.56 6.91 6.04 6.31 5.67
1951 5.90 5.43 4.75 4.19 2.78 3.43 2.86 2.25 2.64 2.10 2.96 4.21
1952 3.77 3.73 3.65 - .33 - .68 -1.81 -2.63 -2.95 -2.57 -2.73 -3.15 -3.11
1953 -3.03 -3.20 -2.28 -1.83 -1.24 -1.87 -2.22 -3.08 -3.85 -4.16 -4.70 -5.09
1954 -4.57 -4.41 -4.81 -4.61 -4.01 -3.97 -4.32 -4.17 -3.50 -2.96 -3.61 -3.08
1955 -3.49 -2.47 -2.15 -1.62 -1.24 - .68 - .93 -1.24 -1.24 -1.17 -1.42 -2.21
1956 -2.15 — .79 -1.28 - .83 — .75 -1.14 - .89 - .95 -1.56 -1.93 -2.22 -2.60
1957 -2.02 -1.66 -2.31 .40 1.92 2.20 2.45 2.14 1.56 1.90 4.62 5.36
1958 4.43 3.44 3.29 2.89 2.66 2.63 3.87 3.52 3.31 - .38 - .27 - .85
1959 - .61 — .62 -1.47 -2.19 .13 - .20 .37 1.30 1.52 2.02 1.95 2.16
1960 - .42 - .57 - .84 -1.27 -1.21 .69 - .23 - .61 -1.08 -1.31 -1.30 -1.25
1961 -1.70 .53 .83 1.75 2.70 3.00 3.16 3.03 2.21 1.79 2.17 2.63
1962 2.45 3.31 2.99 2.30 1.57 1.81 1.42 1.41 2.78 2.97 — .22 - .30
1963 -1.02 -1.68 -1.03 -1.73 -1.90 -2.10 -1.80 -1.18 -1.85 -2.87 -3.32 -4.17
1964 -4.49 -4.79 2.92 - .33 -1.05 -1.63 -1.86 -1.84 1.02 .40 .15 .60 ,
1965 .38 .70 1.38 - .14 - .97 - .77 - .42 - .89 1.50 .00 .43 -1.22
1966 .46 .59 -1.30 1.55 2.12 - .48 -1.15 - .97 - .48 - .44 - .73 - .18
1967 - .81 — .99 -1.55 -1.96 1.04 1.22 2.42 2.60 2.62 3.04 3.18 3.90
· 1968 2.95 2.09 2.17 2.27 2.83 2.21 2.13 1.60 1.76 1.28 1.36 1.64
1969 2.11 - .51 -1.02 - .45 - .95 1.16 1.13 1.33 .86 1.28 1.53 2.20
1970 1.18 1.10 1.20 2.08 1.40 1.96 1.34 1.22 .89 2.24 1.91 2.32
1971 1.79 2.32 - .87 -1.49 .15 .14 .70 1.22 1.67 #- .17 #- .54 #- .54
# Preliminary
LEGEND*
4.00 : extremely wet -1.00 : mild drought
3.00 : very wet 0.50 : incipient wet spell -2.00 : moderate drought
2.00 : moderately wet .00 : near normal -3.00 : severe drought
1.00 : slightly wet -0.50 : incipient drought -4.00 : extreme drought
*Note: In each instance the qualitative description is to be interpreted in comparison
to normal, e.g. above 4.00 = extremely wet as compared to normal.
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 Table 2.—Palmer Drought Index Values (PDI) by Month, 1929-7 1, Central Climatic Division, Kentucky.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1929 - .05 .05 - .72 - .80 1.29 - .07 - .52 -1.25 .09 1.01 1.18 1.24
1930 1.40 - .08 -1.11 -2.25 -2.55 -3.05 -4.18 -4.85 -4.89 -5.08 -5.39 -6.03
1931 -6.37 -6.38 -6.11 -5.40 -5.34 -5.39 -5.68 -4.86 -4.74 -4.61 -4.01 .32
1932 1.23 .78 .87 1.07 - .93 - .98 -1.26 .11 .20 .72 .26 .55
1933 .50 .64 .85 1.33 1.71 -1.02 .71 .89 1.58 1.54 1.02 1.52
1934 - .74 -1.09 -1.22 -1.97 -2.49 -2.40 -2.46 -1.75 -1.06 -1.56 -2.01 -2.61
1935 -2.09 -2.28 1.21 1.46 2.58 3.49 3.61 3.47 3.13 2.80 2.77 - .09
1936 - .58 - .93 -1.08 .53 -1.08 -2.75 -3.27 -4.23 -3.84 -3.31 -3.22 .09
1937 3.49 - .54 -1.52 -1.25 - .97 - .79 -1.04 - .99 -1.03 .90 - .17 - .04
L 1938 - .26 - .75 - .22 -1.00 .49 .39 1.50 2.25 2.98 2.13 2.16 1.61
1939 1.68 2.60 2.63 3.32 - .84 .58 .78 - .29 -1.29 -1.45 -2.17 -2.93
1940 -3.42 -2.87 -2.15 -1.28 -1.21 -1.62 -1.98 -2.16 -2.41 -3.04 -2.60 -2.52
- 1941 -2.82 -3.33 -3.95 -3.88 -4.45 -3.89 -3.32 -3.07 -3.81 -3.12 -3.08 -3.10
1942 -3.08 -2.94 -2.87 -2.88 .05 .47 .12 1.17 1.30 1.85 2.26 2.97
1943 1.83 1.04 2.36 2.25 2.52 - .12 - .24 -1.19 — .93 -1.27 -2.00 -2.66 ·
1944 -3.27 -3.02 -2.35 -1.66 -1.80 -2.71 -3.37 .84 1.57 .97 .43 .25
1945 .01 .80 1.01 .81 1.01 1.41 - .10 - .46 - .73 - .74 - .28 - .40
1946 - .64 .63 — .22 -1.11 .71 .42 .93 1.37 1.33 1.08 1.09 1.09
1947 1.20 - .91 -1.37 .61 1.73 1.80 2.04 - .03 - .27 - .48 - .62 -1.18
1948 -1.42 .59 1.08 1.26 - .28 - .63 - .12 - .36 - .71 .20 1.60 1.90
1949 2.08 2.51 2.43 2.16 1.39 2.27 2.01 2.48 1.76 2.43 1.83 2.81 I
1950 4.48 4.56 3.70 3.27 4.01 4.64 5.29 5.57 6.20 5.44 5.82 5.24
1951 5.48 4.99 4.71 4.11 3.12 3.00 2.44 2.23 2.63 2.35 3.30 4.80
1952 4.30 3.45 3.98 - .76 - .95 -1.54 -2.28 -2.64 -2.71 -2.58 -2.86 -3.03
1953 -2.92 -3.21 -2.70 -2.17 -1.49 -1.84 -1.73 -2.39 -3.05 -3.70 -4.23 -4.81
1954 -4.20 -4.22 -4.72 -4.31 -3.99 -3.94 -4.37 -4.02 -3.41 -3.01 -3.33 -3.02
1955 -3.46 1.40 1.78 1.14 1.20 1.52 - .18 - .73 - .60 - .23 - .40 -1.10
1956 -1.07 1.49 1.26 1.37 — .20 - .48 .52 .52 - .48 - .70 -1.11 -1.07
1957 .29 .33 - .81 .41 .82 1.39 - .31 -1.09 .50 .89 2.59 3.25
1958 2.51 1.77 1.15 1.55 1.40 1.56 2.95 3.10 3.19 2.85 2.75 — .50
1959 - .36 - .45 -1.14 -1.65 -1.30 -1.59 -1.22 -1.01 -1.55 .87 1.23 1.66
I 1960 — .53 - .22 - .41 -1.43 -1.49 1.17 - .45 - .72 - .51 - .81 - .70 - .74
1961 -1.32 .25 .53 1.21 2.33 2.72 3.08 3.11 2.22 1.83 1.88 2.41
1962 2.17 3.28 2.97 2.36 1.76 1.81 1.51 .89 1.70 2.62 2.47 .04
1963 - .83 -1.21 .76 -1.00 -1.35 -1.45 .98 1.04 - .51 -1.65 -2.01 -2.84
1964 -2.98 -2.99 2.08 - .18 - .70 -1.32 -1.12 -1.25 - .65 -1.19 -1.17 .80
1965 .43 .66 1.14 - .27 - .79 - .82 - .42 -1.06 .92 1.23 - .36 -1.27 .
1966 - .95 — .62 -1.76 1.18 1.12 - .56 - .55 .59 .76 .86 1.07 1.76
1967 - .80 -1.05 .10 .14 1.26 1.23 2.99 3.49 3.36 3.41 3.72 3.93
_ 1968 2.85 1.75 2.00 2.39 3.48 - .42 - .41 - .69 - .72 - .85 - .73 - .80
1969 - .68 - .99 -1.57 .35 .28 .89 .51 .90 .31 .21 .19 .85
1970 - .79 - .54 - .72 1.72 1.01 1.33 1.47 1.91 2.62 3.55 3.31 3.62
1971 2.87 3.05 1.90 1.30 1.87 1.73 2.85 2.78 2.70 #1.90 #1.32 #1.16
# Preliminary
lEGEND*
4.00 : extremely wet -1.00 : mild drought
3.00 : very wet 0.50 : incipient wet spell -2.00 : moderate drought
2.00 : moderately wet .00 : near normal -3.00 : severe drought
1.00 : slightly wet -0.50 : incipient drought -4.00 : extreme drought
*Note: In each instance the qualitative description is to be interpreted in comparison
to normal, e.g. above 4.00 = extremely wet as compared to normal.
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 Table 3.-—Palmer Drought Index Values (PDI) by Month, 1929-71, Blue Grass Climatic Division, Kentucky.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT __NQY_ DEC
1929 - .04 - .07 - .61 - .96 1.31 .00 .03 - .66 .86 1.65 2.14 - .01
1930 - .09 - .22 - .99 -1.94 -2.39 -3.19 -4.56 -4.98 -4.98 -5.16 -5.79 -6.54
1931 -6.98 -6.96 -6.74 -5.73 -5.66 -5.75 -5.45 -4.54 -4.53 .37 — .39 .43
1932 1.24 .87 1.18 1.16 .16 .20 .30 .74 .89 1.42 1.43 1.69
1933 1.87 1.86 1.98 2.19 2.55 1.47 1.63 1.31 2.27 2.12 1.51 1.95
1934 - .71 -1.13 -1.02 -1.74 -2.64 -2.82 -2.84 -2.37 -1.60 -2.25 -2.75 -3.27
1935 -2.78 -2.86 1.17 1.24 2.70 3.56 3.75 4.20 4.24 4.11 4.43 4.19
1936 — .22 - .63 - .74 — .03 — .79 -2.27 -2.98 -4.12 -3.94 .41 .14 .17
1937 2.99 - .25 -1.19 - .67 - .78 - .65 -1.09 - .89 -1.48 — .78 -1.23 -1.40
1938 -1.64 -1.90 -1.57 -1.88 .71 .58 1.44 1.67 1.61 - .85 - .64 - .93
1939 .21 1.45 1.73 2.59 1.48 2.20 2.30 - .09 - .78 - .67 -1.36 -2.07
1940 -2.70 -2.13 -1.52 -1.11 - .61 - .76 -1.21 - .89 - .92 -1.74 -1.72 -1.89
· 1941 -2.17 -2.75 -3.34 -3.68 -4.31 -3.68 -3.30 -3.37 -3.95 -2.89 -2.83 -3.00
1942 -3.17 -3.10 -3.07 -3.23 -3.09 .68 1.31 2.90 3.01 3.25 4.14 5.17
1943 4.01 3.11 3.94 3.75 3.98 3.50 3.38 - .92 -1.07 -1.37 -2.31 -3.18
1944 -3.73 -3.69 -2.88 -2.23 -2.40 -3.24 -3.94 .72 .95 - .33 - .92 -1.08
1945 - .99 1.01 1.37 1.30 1.73 1.80 - .05 - .47 - .88 - .86 — .18 - .18
1946 - .59 - .12 - .31 -1.14 .72 1.24 1.29 1.79 1.77 1.75 1.48 1.41
1947 1.66 — .79 -1.35 .23 .93 1.06 1.07 .98 1.20 - .33 - .34 - .82
1948 -1.06 .52 .84 1.89 - .05 - .22 - .14 - .60 -1.21 .19 1.05 1.57
1949 1.81 2.10 .04 - .06 - .43 — .19 - .49 - .05 - .35 - .29 - .66 .60
1950 2.70 2.73 2.14 1.77 `2.2l 2.99 3.81 3.61 4.38 3.90 4.79 4.25
1951 4.71 4.57 4.24 - .29 - .54 - .89 -1.74 -1.96 .25 - .23 1.03 2.46
1952 2.43 1.90 2.38 - .52 — .54 -1.05 -1.76 -2.08 -2.24 -2.25 -2.40 -2.39
1953 -2.23 -2.66 -2.31 -1.94 -1.58 -1.76 -1.83 -2.40 -2.93 -3.55 -4.26 -4.89
1954 -4.69 -4.96 -5.08 -4.99 -4.81 -4.95 -5.22 -4.37 -3.67 -3.34 -3.52 -3.31
1955 -3.57 1.25 1.97 1.14 1.19 1.22 1.60 1.02 1.10 1.57 1.70 1.22
1956 .83 2.30 2.44 2.47 2.22 2.30 2.90 2.61 2.86 2.40 2.11 2.47
1957 2.22 2.03 .97 1.75 1.86 1.81 - .49 -1.17 .41 .65 1.55 2.37
1958 - .50 - .84 -1.31 .44 .73 1.07 2.32 2.50 2.61 2.23 2.26 - .41
V 1959 - .14 - .36 - .99 -1.34 -1.56 -1.93 -1.70 -1.75 -2.53 -1.53 -1.07 - .79
1960 -1.13 — .63 -1.19 -2.17 — .03 1.35 1.12 1.11 1.18 1.20 .01 - .24
1961 - .77 .05 .25 1.12 2.28 2.48 3.11 2.92 2.12 1.49 1.34 1.49
1962 1.23 2.09 2.00 1.42 1.49 1.25 1.58 .90 1.25 1.88 2.07 1.95
1963 - .80 -1.24 1.02 - .88 - .61 - .79 .68 .76 - .49 -1.52 -2.11 -2.98
1964 -3.11 -2.96 2.57 .02 - .77 -1.01 -1.08 -1.54 -1.26 -1.70 -1.97 .43
1965 .09 .16 .57 .75 - .98 -1.60 -1.40 -1.70 1.49 2.18 - .25 - .95 A
1966 - .70 - .51 -1.60 .99 - .09 - .96 - .90 .31 .74 .77 1.09 1.75
1967 — .95 -1.25 .32 .21 1.19 .82 1.24 1.15 1.14 1.19 1.69 1.98
1968 - .69 -1.45 .46 .70 2.05 1.34 1.64 1.91 - .08 - .10 .06 .18
1969 - .69 -1.18 -1.86 -1.73 -1.78 -1.66 -1.72 -1.25 -1.39 -1.52 -1.34 - .84
1970 -1.60 - .01 - .07 1.53 - .38 - .44 - .70 - .67 .57 .91 .73 1.17
1971 .70 1.12 - .73 -1.14 .95 .77 1.46 1.52 2.17 #1.34 # .89 # .83
#Preliminary
LE`GEND*
4.00 : extremely wet -1.00 : mild drought
3.00 : very wet 0.50 : incipient wet spell -2.00 : moderate drought
2.00 : moderately wet .00 : near normal -3.00 : severe drought
1.00 : slightly wet -0.50 : incipient drought -4.00 : extreme drought
*Note: In each instance the qualitative description is to be interpreted in comparison
to normal, e.g. above 4.00 = extremely wet as compared to normal.
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 Table 4.—-Palmer Drought Index Values (PDI) by Month, 1929-71, Eastern Climatic Division, Kentucky.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1929 - .14 - .14 .44 — .44 1.08 1.22 1.45 .97 1.57 2.43 3.06 -.29
1930 - .98 -1.26 -1.74 -2.72 -2.82 -3.59 -4.66 -4.84 -5.20 -5.11 -5.35 -5.59
1931 -5.99 -5.96 -5.76 -4.40 -3.78 -4.14 -3.87 -2.83 -3.03 -2.85 -3.24 -2.33
1932 -1.70 -1.61 -1.25 -1.38 -1.95 -1.09 -1.42 -2.07 -2.40 .86 .67 .82
1933 .67 .89 .55 .37 1.30 -1.31 - .91 - .60 - .66 -1.19 -1.91 -1.84
1934 -2.33 -2.24 -1.05 -1.33 -2.20 -2.16 -2.47 -1.67 -1.42 -1.67 -2.05 -2.77
1935 -2.41 -2.51 1.61 1.89 3.28 3.69 3.76 - .03 - .27 .03 .42 - .08
1936 — .12 - .57 - .52 .54 -1.20 -2.71 -3.05 -3.66 -4.00 .17 — .18 .25
1937 2.38 1.95 .78 .77 .87 1.34 1.04 1.21 .72 1.98 - .34 - .54
1938 - .75 -1.36 -1.50 .06 .68 1.12 1.51 2.03 2.16 1.10 1.63 1.18
1939 1.04 2.76 2.44 2.55 — .79 - .82 - .57 -1.02 -1.67 -1.81 -2.57 -3.05
1940 -3.63 -3.17 -2.74 -2.36 -2.23 -1.78 -1.55 -1.34 -1.31 -1.90 -2.14 -2.47
- 1941 -2.94 -3.68 -3.87 -3.54 -4.47 -3.94 -2.65 -2.71 -3.15 -3.00 -3.09 -3.29
1942 -3.51 -3.68 -3.57 -4.32 -4.15 .55 1.39 2.35 2.81 3.15 3.41 4.56
1943 - .90 -1.41 .77 1.14 1.14 .97 .94 — .87 - .98 - .82 -1.29 -1.83
1944 -2.43 .79 1.10 1.31 - .74 - .88 -2.34 .44 1.24 .88 .46 .49
1945 .35 .97 .35 .22 1.04 1.20 - .32 - .55 - .72 - .87 1.04 1.00
1946 1.32 .01 - .65 -1.27 .28 .46 .55 1.45 1.58 1.99 1.64 1.47
1947 2.17 - .82 -1.19 -1.80 .33 .54 .97 1.45 1.36 - .62 - .76 -1.41
1948 -1.36 .50 .56 .67 - .13 - .27 - .42 - .87 -1.29 .00 1.09 1.25 .
1949 1.31 - .21 - .46 .52 - .42 - .80 - .78 - .90 - .89 .80 .39 .67
1950 2.35 2.22 1.62 .73 1.49 2.27 3.02 3.14 3.87 3.48 4.26 3.61
1951 3.62 3.81 3.56 3.70 2.91 2.73 2.05 1.66 2.31 1.92 3.11 4.27
1952 4.20 3.24 3.85 3.32 3.58 — .54 -1.55 -1.01 -1.31 -1.52 -1.13 -1.12
1953 — .81 -1.10 -1.25 -1.19 .79 .52 - .22 - .80 -1.17 -2.09 -2.67 -3.10
1954 -2.31 -2.90 -2.85 -3.18 -2.78 -2.86 -2.89 .16 .19 .27 - .24 .63
1955 - .68 .98 2.53 - .47 - .79 - .51 - .75 -1.36 -1.59 -1.46 -1.84 -2.47
1956 -2.49 -1.92 -2.44 3.26 2.57 2.27 3.16 2.69 2.86 2.44 1.93 2.82
1957 3.60 3.37 - .82 - .58 - .89 - .62 -1.18 -1.87 1.43 1.67 2.79 2.73
1958 1.84 1.43 .98 2.34 2.74 2.52 3.17 3.74 3.79 3.43 3.26 - .50
1959 - .52 - .85 -1.36 — .92 - .88 -1.22 -1.24 -1.58 -1.89 .76 1.26 1.33
A 1960 - .50 - .22 - .31 -1.30 0.00 1.18 1.59 1.74 2.03 2.25 1.98 1.74
1961 1.30 1.18 .86 1.69 1.75 2.36 3.26 3.07 2.42 2.45 2.10 2.87
1962 2.71 3.60 3.28 3.60 3.06 3.43 3.62 2.70 2.96 2.85 3.18 2.96
1963 1.89 1.32 2.54 1.25 1.45 1.40 2.17 0.00 - .16 -1.21 -1.14 -1.67
1964 -1.66 .10 .58 .74 - .63 -1.08 - .04 .10 1.06 1.70 1.78 2.29
1965 1.94 1.32 2.08 2.16 - .83 -1.06 .73 .44 .73 1.06 - .46 -1.71 V
1966 -1.68 -1.46 -2.27 -1.25 -1.58 -2.28 .21 .83 1.82 2.21 2.62 2.93
1967 1.87 1.31 1.71 1.39 2.45 2.04 3.38 2.98 3.06 3.00 3.52 3.78
1968 - .64 -1.61 .47 .84 1.69 1.05 .98 1.10 .81 1.42 - .08 - .03
A 1969 - .49 - .71 -1.43 -1.32 -1.52 .31 - .28 - .25 - .29 - .42 .02 1.18
1970 - .92 - .76 -1.07 1.18 - .59 - .54 -1.03 .61 1.45 2.74 2.56 2.55
1971 2.36 2.15 1.26 1.06 2.17 2.07 3.07 2.82 3.51 #2.96 #2.47 #1.82
# Preliminary
LEGEND*
4.00 : extremely wet -1.00 : mild drought
3.00 : very wet 0.50 : incipient wet spell -2.00 : moderate drought
2.00 : moderately wet .00 : near normal -3.00 : severe drought
1.00 : slightly wet -0.50 : incipient drought -4.00 : extreme drought
*Note: In each instance the qualitative description is to be interpreted in comparison
to normal, e.g. above 4.00 = extremely wet as compared to normal.
15

 OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE AND EXTREME DROUGHT BY MONTH, 1929-71
On the basis of this 43-year record, Fig. 5 shows the percent of years that severe and -
extreme meteorological drought existed in the four climatic divisions for each of the 12 calendar
months.
In the Western Climatic Division November through February had severe or extreme
drought about 16-20% of the time, which was more frequent than in any other division during
this period and about twice as frequent as in the Eastern Climatic Division. In the Western,
Central and Blue Grass Climatic Divisions severe and extreme drought were relatively infrequent
in spring but somewhat more frequent in midsummer; in the Eastern Climatic Division, relatively
infrequent in all months. It is probable that much of the month-to-month differences that appear
in Fig. 5 are probably accidental, owing to the short period of record used. However Fig. 5
suggests that the threat of severe or extreme drought increases markedly in the Western Climatic
Division in November and decreases in March. Actually these four cold months November-
February account for 50% of the 64 months of severe or extreme drought that occurred in
western Kentucky in 43 years. Therefore, this winter maximum of the frequency of abnormally
dry weather probably is real.
When one considers the four climatic divisions, Fig. 5 shows that the Eastern Climatic _
Division has experienced noticeably fewer occurrences of severe or extreme drought than have
the other divisions. This illustrates the fact that precipitation is fairly reliable the year around in
the eastern part of the state and that prolonged periods of abnormally dry weather occur rather
infrequently. The greater likelihood of dry periods in Western Kentucky and the more reliable
precipitation in Eastem Kentucky have been indicated in other studies (9,10,11).
The total percentage occurrence of severe and extreme drought, all months combined, (Fig. B
6) decreases from about 12% in the west to about 7% in the east (the greater part of this decrease
in the extreme drought category). As a matter of interest, Palmer (3) found that, "The areal
distribution of the frequency of occurrence of various classes of drought severity shows that most
areas in the Great Plains have endured severe or extreme drought from 15 to 25 percent of the i
time in the past 30 years (1931-60); but most of the area to the east had serious drought less than
10 percent of the time.”
Considering the total occurrences of all categories of drought from mild to extreme, we find
that there is little difference from one division to the next, occurrences ranging from about 33% -
in the west to about 30% in the east. Palmer (3) found that over much of the nation for areas for
which data were analyzed that there was some degree of abnormal dryness about one-third to
two-fifths of the time at all places studied.
FURTHER STUDIES
Additional possibilities for further study of the Kentucky drought data include the
following:
1. Comparison of drought analyses for points wi