Most of the trees are having drought stress and are wilting.  Approximately 20 percent of the leaves have already fallen.  The unwatered lawns are extremely brown.  Northern Kentucky University had to make emergency sidewalk repairs due to steps forming in the sidewalks due to the severe drought.  Our local area is definitely in the D2 - SEVERE DROUGHT category.   I had to water my trees again due to this serious drought.  This drought is now becoming worse than the drought of 2010.  Some home owners are having drought-related foundation problems.  There is a potential lawn fire hazard due to tossed cigarette butts.  Only about 35 to 40 percent of the normal rainfall during the last 90 days.  Only 0.11" of rainfall this past week.  Many pine trees are showing signs of browning and drought stress.  There are very wide cracks in the lawns.  Pond level is very low with a little more than half of the pond water dried up.   A lot of peoples bushes around their homes now have drought damage.  Northern Kentucky University is appearing to have now many tree problems due to this drought. 

4 COUNTY SUMMARY -  HAMILTON Mostly now in D0 - ABNORMALLY DRY Beginning of drought for most of the county.  During my drive through Hamilton County yesterday, a lot of grass areas are now starting to become brown in Hamilton County and really have begin to start to deteriorate.  The trees still look O.K. in Hamilton County.  CAMPBELL in D2 - SEVERE DROUGHT - north half.  South half D0 - ABNORMALLY DRY.  KENTON in D2 - SEVERE DROUGHT - north half and in D1 - MODERATE DROUGHT - south half.  BOONE - North half of County in D0  - ABNORMALLY DRY including the CVG airport in Hebron and south half either in D0 - ABNORMALLY DRY or D1 - MODERATE DROUGHT depending on local location.  KENTON COUNTY - Doe Run Lake Dam Lake Reservoir in Kenton County is extremely low and the lake almost totally dried up except for sewerage treatment plant water.

UPDATE 9/11/2024 FORECAST.  It looks like we will only get a few light sprinkles at the most from the remnants of hurricane Francis according to the GFS model.  Things are looking very dry in the forecast for at least the next 2 weeks.  If the very scant or lack of precipitation continues for the next 30 days, there is a good chance of our area entering D3 - EXTREME DROUGHT  by October 10, 2024 with the conditions becoming the worst this century.  Widespread tree drought damage will be likely if this occurs.  We badly need rain.