Mild Expansion Of Drought Areas In Missouri

The first drought level category has expanded a little more in Missouri and includes some counties in Northwest Missouri. The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows abnormally dry conditions in the southern half of Clinton County and the southern edge of Buchanan County. The abnormally dry, or D0, level extends from those counties further south into southern Missouri. There are also small areas of abnormally dry conditions on the eastern side of the state, one in St Louis County, and the other further south that includes primary parts of 3 other counties in southeast Missouri. In total, 13 percent of the total area in Missouri is considered to be in abnormally dry conditions.

The abnormally dry category includes ground potentially with stunted pasture and row crop growth, a potential increase in fire risk, stress in landscaping, and a decline in river levels.

Iowa has 16 percent of their acreage at the D0 level. That area includes the northern half of Adams and Montgomery county.

There are no areas in Missouri or Iowa with anything more severe than a D0 drought category.