Record hot temperatures during the month of October and into the first week of November, coupled with high winds and drought conditions have sent local firefighters into action battling wildfires.

Those same drought and extreme dry conditions also prompted Clinton County Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong to issue a burn ban on Monday until further notice.

The lack of rain throughout the entire summer has placed Clinton County and this region into severe drought conditions currently, and on Sunday, the county was blanked under a cover of thick smoke that was the result of several wildfires in the region, many of which were reported in neighboring Wayne County.

Those conditions prompted Armstrong on Monday to issue atheburn ban.

The ban was issued as an Executive Order through the office of Clinton County Emergency Management Director Lonnie Scott.

The ban directs local residents that there will be “No outside burning in Clinton County” and notes that the ban will remain in effect until “sufficient rainfall has lessened the chance of wildfires”.

The ban further notes that when conditions warrant the lifting of the order, the public will be notified.

“Judge Armstrong urges all citizens of Clinton County to comply with the Executive Order so that we can provide for the safety of our fellow citizens,” Armstrong’s order noted.

As of Monday, Clinton County was one of 52 counties in Kentucky that had issued outdoor burn bans.

About 14,000 acres in Kentucky has been involved in wildfires since October 29, and Gov. Matt Bevin declared a statewide emergency last week and urged all citizens to refrain from outdoor burning and use extreme caution during outdoor activities.

Also on Monday, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources issued a reminder urging all hunters to use extreme caution while out in the woods in light of the start of modern gun deer season opening this coming weekend.

Randy Speck compiled drought related figures for the Clinton County News this week from the Kentucky Mesonet weather reporting system.

Locally, the WKU Kentucky Mesonet digital reporting station is located near the Wellness Center and Clinton County Middle School.

According to the information gathered by Speck, October 2016 in Clinton County is on record as being the driest October since 2010, with just 69 hundredths of an inch of measurable precipitation was recorded last month, and 3.34 inches of precipitation recorded in October of 2015.

The most precipitation recorded for any October since Kentucky Mesonet began recording weather data in Clinton County was 6.51 inches in October of 2014. October 2016 is also on record as being the hottest October since 2010.

The average daily high temperature last month was 75.8 degrees. The average daily high temperature in October of 2010 was 73.1 degrees. The average overnight low temperature last month was 50.5 degrees, the warmest overnight low temperature on record since Kentucky Mesonet began recording data in Clinton County.

OCTOBER AVERAGE

PRECIPITATION

2016 – 0.69 inches

2015 – 3.34 inches

2014 – 6.51 inches

2013 – 2.34 inches

2012 – 2.94 inches

2011 – 2.35 inches

2010 – 2.02 inches

OCTOBER AVERAGE

TEMPERATURES

2016 – High 75.7, Low 50.5

2015 – High 68.9, Low 47.2

2014 – High 68.4, Low 46.7

2013 – High 68.0, Low 46.9

2012 – High 65.6, Low 45.3

2011 – High 68.3, Low 43.0

2010 – High 73.1, Low 42.6

(Compiled by Randy Speck)

To date, Clinton County has received 35.73 inches of precipitation. That compares to 48.89 inches of rain measured through the first ten months of 2015 and 44.9 inches through the same period in 2014.

In relation to the wildfire situation in Kentucky, the Red Cross issued a notice on Monday announcing the availability of smart device apps related to the emergency and that organization:

With the spread of wildfires due to the very dry conditions across the state, the Red Cross has been coordinating closely with community and government partners to provide assistance to those in the vicinity of the wildfires.

If you live in or near an area which is impacted, listen to news reports as well as download the Red Cross Wildfire or Emergency App.

These are part of a series of disaster-specific apps. All of these apps put lifesaving information in the palm of your hand before, during and after emergencies.

The top five features of the Red Cross Wildfire app are:

· Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to all information even without mobile connectivity.

· Instant access to information from local, state, and federal agencies.

· “I’m safe” feature lets family and loved ones know you are ok.

· Locations of open Red Cross shelters.

· Toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light, and an audible alarm.