Abnormal Dryness Returns To Southeast Missouri

For the first time in nearly three months, more than one percent of Missouri’s area is experiencing abnormal dryness.  The weekly US Drought Monitor indicates two areas of pre-drought conditions have developed, both in Southeast Missouri.  One patch covers a majority of Reynolds and Shannon counties, along with western Carter, southern Iron, southwestern Madison, northern Oregon, and northwestern Wayne counties.  Eastern Perry and northeast Cape Girardeau counties are also impacted by abnormal dryness with a patch extending from three counties in Southern Illinois.  Together they comprise 3.7 percent of Missouri land.  No part of the state is currently in drought, but despite Missouri going 18 of the last 19 weeks without a reported instance of drought, hot temperatures continuing into much of next week could bring that trend to an end.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.