Earlier this week the latest National Drought Monitor report was released. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro tells us that conditions have improved but still about ⅓ of Missouri is under a drought watch.

This time last year, nearly 18% of Missouri was considered abnormally dry by the US Drought Monitor. The National Drought Mitigation Center based in Lincoln, Nebraska released their latest assessment this week and reported that nearly 36% of Missouri is considered especially parched.

Wide strips of Central and Northern Missouri from the Kansas border to St. Louis and up to Iowa are affected. At this low level of moisture, pasture, and crop growth is stunted; planting is delayed and the threat of fire increases, among other impacts. Neighboring Kansas is in worse shape, with nearly ¾ of the state considered abnormally dry or worse. Between Kansas and Missouri, the report says that over 621,000 residents are living in drought conditions. The report was completed prior to this week’s storms. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro