BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) -- The latest designations from the U.S. Drought Monitor came out this week.

And the news for Belmont County is not good.

Their drought designation has gone from moderate to severe.

Belmont County Extension Agent Dan Lima says that means creeks are going dry, crops are suffering and the soil is cracked and dry.

It also means trees are losing their leaves earlier and the chance of wildfires is increasing.

Homeowners and gardeners may need to 'up their game.'

Any new planting, let's definitely water those. Any shrubs that you really like, hydrangeas, rhododendrums, anything that you want to be healthy for the following year, please water those. Gardens need watered. But yeah, we are, we just went into severe drought."

He says it's helpful but not vital to w

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