Orleans drought conditions worsen
Photos by Tom Rivers: A golf cart is shown on a fairway at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Holley on Thursday, where the course is suffering from a lack of rain.
Another of week of very little rain has Orleans County officially in drought conditions. Last week, the county was “abnormally dry,” according to the United States Drought Monitor.
Now, Orleans is in “moderate drought,” and that includes Niagara and Monroe counties, and some of northern Genesee County, according to data posted on Thursday by the Drought Monitor.
There has been little rain in Orleans County the past six weeks, which has turned lawns white-yellow and stunted crops for farmers who don’t have irrigation.
Today will be sunny and hot with a high of 90 and no rain for Orleans County, while Saturday has a high of 81 and a slight chance for showers after midnight. Sunday through Wednesday all are forecast for a chance for rain, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Two years ago there was also a drought. The conditions were so bad in Orleans that the Drought Monitor listed the county in “severe drought.” Farmers are hoping the conditions don’t reach that level this summer.
Golfers play on the parched course at Hickory Ridge on Thursday. The ground is hard, so golfers are getting longer shots with the roll.
