For the second time in three months, Columbus went more than two weeks without measurable rain. The most recent dry stretch that began on Sept. 7 will finally be relieved on the first full day of autumn,

Stubborn drought in Ohio and shifting weather patterns appear to be affecting North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw.

Portions of Ohio has inched closer to becoming a desert this week as the ongoing drought worsened and expanded, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Exceptional drought, the worst possible drought condition, is present in almost 10 percent of the state. Extreme drought, the second worst condition, takes up 20 percent of the state.

Nearly a tenth of Ohio is now classified as in the highest levels of drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, moderate drought touches Portage County, closing in on Northeast Ohio again.

Our drought conditions worsen as temperatures heat up into the 90s for the end of the week and into the weekend

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is authored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, counties such as Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Montgomery are in the "severe drought" category.