Washington and Franklin County have now been in drought for 11 months. This is the same length of time as the previous drought from mid-summer 2024 to early summer 2025. Before then, the most recent longest stretch of drought occurred from October 2001 to late October 2002.
The area just experienced the 21st driest Sept. 1 to July 18 on record since the late 1800s, according to meteorologists. Forecast trends show improvement will occur later in the fall season as a very strong El Nino brings multiple rainstorms to the region. Prior to then, rainfall will either reach near average or fall below average for each month through October.
Fortunately, with the occasional rainfall seen this summer, farmers in the area are not in a totally sore spot. There has been rainfall to help with the growing season. Long-term drought, like the one the area is currently in, is having an impact on the waterways and ground table levels though. Farmers are likely having to do about as much irrigation as last year in between rains.
You can read more on the details of the weather forecast through the remainder of the year in the 2026 Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack.
The Cumberland Valley experienced its worst air quality since with a reading of 219 on July 17, 2026 owing to the Ontario, Canada, wildfire smoke. This bests the previous AQI of 172 set on June 29, 2023, when a round of Canadian wildfire smoke came south from Quebec. Readings in the 200-300 range are considered Code Purple while 172 is Code Red.
Until Ontario gets a substantial soaking rain, occasional rounds of smoke will move into the area. However, as 2023 demonstrated, the worst air quality tends to happen with the initial round of smoke. So, perhaps the worst air quality of the summer and year are past with the first round of wildfire smoke on July 17, 2026.
