Drought considered extreme in NW Ohio

FINDLAY — Northwest Ohio is experiencing one of the most severe droughts in recent history, and it's not likely to end soon. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor and the State Climate Office of Ohio, Columbus, nearly 49% of the state is experiencing drought, with a large swath of extreme drought now affecting most counties in the northwest. It is the most widespread drought in the region since the Drought Monitor was established 25 years ago. It would take six inches of rain over the next 30 days to end the drought locally, according to the experts. At best, a cold front moving through Ohio this week could bring 1 to 2 inches of rain to some areas, with several bouts of rain expected over the next 10 days. So far, this October, Hancock County has received 1.5 inches of rain. Surrounding counties are also reporting similar rainfall for the month. The normal rainfall for October in Ohio is about 2.5 inches, making it one of the driest months of the year under normal conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Since the summer, Northwest Ohio has received only about 25% of its expected rainfall. August 2025 was the driest on record for Ohio since 1895. High evaporation rates due to high temperatures can accelerate soil drying, contributing to "flash drought" conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. Recent cooler temperatures and heavy morning dew are helping to slow the evaporation. Drought conditions could gradually improve through late fall and winter, if the La Niña weather pattern persists and brings a wet winter. However, this year's La Niña appears to be weak, and long-range forecasts remain uncertain, according to NOAA's seasonal outlook. A La Niña, which means "little girl" in Spanish, typically means a cold and wet winter for the northern United States, which could help end the drought. During a La Niña, strong trade winds push warm water in the Pacific towards Asia, which causes cold water to surface off the coast of the Americas, driving the jet stream north, according to NOAA. In October of last year, 88% of the Ohio Valley region was affected by drought, and 35% of Ohio was under extreme to exceptional drought. Several northwest counties were designated by the United States Department of Agriculture as disaster areas. In contrast, October 2025 shows 49% of Ohio in drought, with northwestern counties now among the hardest hit, according to the Drought Monitor. The U.S. Drought Monitor was established in 1999 as a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About 250 climatologists and extension agents work to update drought maps each week and report how drought conditions are affecting crops and wildlife. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to report the accurate amount of rainfall for October in Findlay since Monday, according to the National Weather Service.