It's Official -- Drought Conditions Worsen

The new drought update from the U.S. Drought Monitor is out and just as I talked about in yesterday's blog, the dry conditions are getting worse across the Midwest.

Here is the map of the Midwest showing that "abnormally dry" conditions (yellow) have increased from 45% coverage last week to 51% this week. 

More critical on this map how is "moderate drought" has expanded from 8% last week to 25% this week.  .

And, 4% of the Midwest is now in a "severe drought".

In Iowa, the drought situation is worse than it is in Illinois.

The entire state is "abnormally dry" and 60% of Iowa is now in a "moderate drought" compared to 35% last week.  22% (mainly across central Iowa) is facing a "severe drought".  Last week, no part of Iowa was in that category.

In Illinois, 68% of the state is "abnormally dry" (yellow) and 21% is in the "moderate drought" category.  Last week, it was at 0% for the "moderate drought".

We could see a few scattered showers Friday evening and Friday night and, again, Sunday.  However, no widespread beneficial rains are in our ten-day forecast.

CBS4 Meteorologist Anthony Peoples