Drought

Several areas within the Midwest region received 2 inches or more of rain this week, with Missouri experiencing the heaviest thunderstorms – locally over 6 inches. But other parts were dry, with little to no rain falling.

Nearly 100% of Missouri is experiencing one of the five levels of drought. Two-thirds of the state's population or 4.2 million residents live in drought prone areas.

Over 91% of Missouri is in one of the five drought classifications, while over 86% of Kansas is experiencing drought.

Summer is known as a hot and dry time but every corner of Missouri is in one of the five levels of drought, 94.08% of the state. While Kansas continues to experience two pockets of exceptional drought, the worst possible classification.

Seasonal droughts are common in Missouri. Just three months away over 91% of the state was free of any drought classification. When summer approaches, severe conditions return usually first to central parts of the state, and into southwest Missouri. A different story in Kansas where the state has experienced month after month of extreme and exceptional drought thanks to a very mild winter.

A wet Winter and Spring in Kansas is badly needed to improve statewide drought conditions

Improvement in drought conditions in Missouri, according to latest report