Last week we watched Hurricane Fiona ravage Puerto Rico with over 31 inches of rain in 72 hours. According to the latest report from the National Drought Monitor, southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri has the opposite problem. Not enough rain. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

According to the latest national drought report released last week, parts of seven southwest Missouri counties are now in extreme drought, including 100% of Barton county. An increase of over 48% from the following week.

Drought conditions have continued to spread in neighboring Jasper county. Two weeks ago, approximately 49% of the country was in extreme drought. That figure has now climbed to 94%.

Southeast Kansas is in far more dire circumstances where parts of seven counties are in exceptional drought. And all 12 counties that comprise the area are experiencing extreme drought. Nearly 20% of Kansas is in the most serious drought classification, exceptional, while 53% of Kansas is in extreme drought.

Missouri is fairing better, with about 2.5% of the state in extreme drought, all located in southwest Missouri. No rain is forecast for the upcoming week. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro