Missouri Drought Monitor Stays Steady, Iowa Downgraded

The new Drought Monitor was released Thursday. The new map showed a drought map in Missouri which was similar to last week. Iowa’s drought map downgraded due to a substantial jump in Moderate Drought territory and a noticeable increase in Extreme Drought.

Only 10 percent of Missouri territory is now considered to be with no moisture deficit. The eastern two-thirds of our Missouri listening area is in moderate drought. Much of Worth, Andrew, and Nodaway Counties are in pre-drought condition. Putnam County and most of Sullivan County show severe drought. Missouri’s D-3, or Extreme Drought territory, remains among parts of 5 counties in northeast Missouri and 12 counties in central Missouri.

Iowa’s drought map showed a jump of nearly 20 percentage points in Moderate Drought territory. 53 percent of Iowa territory is now considered to be in moderate drought. Severe drought territory also nearly doubled from 7 percent to 14 percent. Most of Wayne County is now in Severe Drought. All of Decatur County is now in Moderate Drought. Ringgold and Taylor Counties are considered in pre-drought conditions.