Drought conditions improved last week across wide portions of central and northern Missouri, according to the weekly drought monitor from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For the past two weeks, severe drought conditions covered most of Cole County, while moderate and severe drought conditions each covered about half of Callaway County.
Extreme drought — the third most severe level of drought on the USDA’s four-level drought severity scale — covered small portions of northern Cole County, western Callaway County and northern Moniteau County.
This week, severe and moderate drought conditions still cover about half of Cole County each.
About the same portion of extreme drought covers northern Cole County as last week, the drought monitor shows.
The biggest improvement in the region may have been made in Osage County, where drought conditions no longer cover the county’s southeastern portion.
Over the past 30 days, precipitation has picked up locally, with portions of Central Missouri receiving 0.5-5 inches more rain than normal, according to National Weather Service data.
For most of the summer, exceptional — the most severe level on the USDA’s drought monitor — and extreme drought gripped northern parts of Missouri.
Drought conditions no longer cover some portions of northwestern Missouri.
Extreme drought conditions cover much smaller portions of northern Missouri than last week.