Drought Conditions Expand Into Ralls, Eastern Monroe Counties

Northeast Missouri is again experiencing more drought while South Central Missouri is exiting similar conditions.  The weekly US Drought Monitor update shows the emergence of moderate drought across eastern Audrain and Monroe counties as well as a majority of Ralls, westernmost Pike, and a portion of southern Marion counties.  Lewis County has entered abnormal dryness, as have the remainder of Lincoln, Pike, and Warren counties.  On the flip side, moderate drought is no longer present in south central or southeast Missouri, with abnormally dry conditions limited to northern Scott and eastern Cape Girardeau counties along the Mississippi River, as well as a band stretching from the southeast corner of Howell County northeast to the southwestern border of Reynolds County.

Conditions remain unchanged for the rest of the state, with severe drought still impacting Barton, southwestern Vernon, and northwestern Jasper counties.  10.2 of Missouri is in some stage of drought, down two-tenths of a percent from last week.  Another 41 percent of the state is abnormally dry.