One of the warmest and driest Mays on record worsened the rare spring drought over western Kentucky. At Paducah, spring of 2012 was the driest spring on record. Only 4.95 inches of rain fell from March through May. The month of May was the driest on record. Only 0.39 inch fell at Paducah in May. By the end of May, severe drought conditions existed across most of western Kentucky. The exception was from Owensboro southward across Greenville to Elkton, where the drought did not officially start until June. Soils continued to dry out, and topsoil moisture deficits began to be reported. Outdoor burning was banned in Crittenden and Henderson Counties. Streamflows were running below normal by the end of the month. Flows in the Tradewater River (at the Olney river gage) and Massac Creek (near Paducah) reached record lows for this time of year. Lake George, which is the drinking water supply for Marion, was five feet below normal.

Drought in TRIGG, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in UNION, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in WEBSTER, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CALDWELL, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CARLISLE, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CRITTENDEN, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FULTON, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HENDERSON, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HICKMAN, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LIVINGSTON, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LYON, KENTUCKY
From 12-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency