July 26, 2012

The latest drought monitor has been released and the Central Plains saw conditions slightly worsen over the past week.  Although there was some rainfall that occurred this morning across the area, the latest update only includes precipitation through 6am CST on July 24.  The contiguous United States has just over 80% of the county with abnormally dry or worse conditions, a whopping 63.9% actually in some form of drought.  To make matters worse, over 20% of the country is in extreme or exceptional drought, first time since mid-February 2003.  Below is a closer look at individual states:

 

Nebraska

100% of the state is in severe or worse drought with a majority (64%) actually in extreme or worse.  Eastern Nebraska has managed some rain recently which has provided it with slightly better conditions, while the central portion of the state sees the first exceptional drought rating for Nebraska since July of 2004.  Like many other states, three months ago there was a single acre in Nebraska being designated in severe or worse drought, indicating just how quickly the lack of rainfall has built up.

 

Kansas

Kansas also has 100% of the state in severe or worse drought conditions with the latest drought update, and a large majority (over 72%) in extreme or exceptional drought.  Extreme drought covers much of western Kansas and extends across portions of the entire state, including the metro areas of Wichita, Topeka and the Kansas City area.  While less than a year ago there was nearly 18% of the state in exceptional drought compared to the current 9% the difference lies in the sheer expansive nature of this drought, only 75% of the state was in a form of drought then.

 

Missouri

As you could have expected, Missouri is another one of the four states that has 100% of their area in severe or worse drought (Iowa is the other along with Kansas and Nebraska).  The southeast portion of the state is hardest hit, where parts of 11 counties have been designated in exceptional or worse drought.  Extreme drought covers a large portion of the state, including the St. Louis Metro, Kansas City Metro and the cities of Springfield, Columbia and many more.  The cities of Jefferson City and Joplin are currently designated in only severe drought, however with little rain in sight for the next week they could see the extreme category in the next update.