Ohio/Kentucky Carboniferous Plateau

September 2026 precipitation in Muskingum County totaled 5.7 in, 2.9 in above normal against the 1901-2000 baseline of 2.9 in, ranking 10th wettest of 132 such periods on record since 1895. This marks a continuation of wet conditions that have reduced drought stress heading into fall.

Muskingum County remains free of drought designation as of the week of October 13-19, 2026, with no part of the county classified in any drought category. Following wet conditions earlier in the autumn, the county has maintained adequate water supply through October.

Mean daily high over the last 30 days at Zanesville Municipal Airport has been 71.5°F, 2.3°F above normal, and mean daily low has been 50.4°F, 4.3°F above normal. October temperatures are running warmer than the 1991-2020 baseline for these calendar days, consistent with continued above-normal warmth through autumn.

Carolina Mantis was recorded three times from September 24 to October 9, 2026 in Zanesville and New Lexington. This native predatory insect extends its activity into October, following the peak of arthropod availability in autumn.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander was recorded four times from September 24 to October 10, 2026, including three sightings on the same day at Dillon State Park. This woodland salamander's presence reflects active forest habitat with leaf litter and moisture.

Spotted Lanternfly was observed four times from September 29 to October 14, 2026 in Zanesville and Falls Township. This invasive planthopper feeds on tree of heaven and other trees, posing a pest risk to forest and agricultural systems in the Plateau.

Eastern redbud is showing colored leaves and recent fruit or seed drop, with ripe fruits observed on October 14. The species is fully entered into its autumn seed dispersal phase, with continued above-normal temperatures through mid-October favoring continued phenological progression.

Zanesville WWTP is in significant non-compliance for failure to submit its required discharge monitoring report. The facility's wastewater treatment plant serves the city and surrounding Muskingum County areas but has not met its reporting obligations under its NPDES permit.

Monarch butterflies were observed three times in Ohio between August 27 and September 15, in the midst of the species' southbound fall migration. The monarch is proposed for threatened listing under the Endangered Species Act, and fall migration through Ohio represents a critical window for the population's survival as it moves toward its Mexican wintering grounds.

Multiple goldenrod species are actively flowering through mid-September, with tall goldenrod observed on 2026-09-16. Elevated mean daily temperatures of 82.8 degrees Fahrenheit, 2.9 degrees above normal over the past month, likely sustained their late-summer bloom through September.