The Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, in coordination with the Kentucky Drought Mitigation Team, issued a Level 2 drought declaration for 24 counties in western Kentucky Thursday afternoon. In addition, a Level 1 drought was declared for 66 counties in nine DMAs.

A Level 2 drought indicates severe drought conditions have developed. Environmentalists say counties with this designation can expect severe impacts to water-sensitive enterprises; depletion of water supplies in shallow wells, springs and ponds; increased incidences of wildfires; higher demands placed on water treatment facilities; and the imposition of water conservation advisories.

A Level 1 drought indicates moderate to severe drought conditions have developed primarily affecting soil moisture and vegetation. Counties with this designation can expect reduced supplies of agricultural water and heightened risk of wildfires.

Counties included in the Level 2 drought declaration:

Purchase DMA: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, McCracken, Marshall
Pennyrile DMA: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg
Green River DMA: Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, Webster

Counties included in the Level 1 drought declaration:

Barren River DMA: Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Warren
Big Sandy DMA: Magoffin
Bluegrass DMA: Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, Woodford
Buffalo Trace DMA: Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Robertson
Cumberland Valley DMA: Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, Whitley
Gateway DMA: Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rowan
Kentucky River DMA: Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, Wolfe
Lake Cumberland DMA: Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, Wayne
Lincoln Trail DMA: Grayson, Marion, Washington

Counties considered abnormally dry but not yet included in the Level 1 drought declaration:
Big Sandy DMA: Floyd, Johnson, Martin, Pike
Bluegrass DMA: Franklin
FIVCO DMA: Boyd, Carter, Elliot, Greenup, Lawrence
Lincoln Trail DMA: Breckinridge, Hardin, LaRue, Meade, Nelson
Northern Kentucky DMA: Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton