The Drought Monitor updates each week with conditions for locations across the country.
Our highest stage is listed at Moderate Drought which has expanded now to include 2 additional major cities: Bay City and Saginaw.
This stage means: Some damage to crops and pastures is likely or occurring.
Streams, reservoirs, or wells may begin to show low levels.
We continue seeing some damage to crops in Mid-Michigan with multiple farms reporting losses in everything from sugar beets, to corn and wheat.
Christmas trees and apple trees are also seeing losses.
With dry conditions fire danger also remains a risk with high potential for fires to spread if brush is ignited.
Several communities remain under burn bans in these dry locations.
Avoid burning even small fires until we get meaningful soaking rainfall.
We need some good steady soakers in-order to rebound from the dry point we are at.