For the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor was created in 1999, part of West Virginia has been listed under exceptional drought. The Drought Monitor released its latest map on Thursday morning, and parts of Mason, Putnam, Jackson, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties were listed under extreme drought conditions. The map included data through 8 a.m. Tuesday, so the impact from the blistering heat this week isn’t part of Thursday’s map. This is a record high percentage of topsoil moisture short or very short in the 22-year record for West Virginia.,the Drought Monitor reported..