Severe drought expands into more than half of North Dakota.
In North Dakota, extreme drought conditions increased from 30 percent to nearly 36 percent of the state during the past week.
More than half of North Dakota now lies within an area of severe drought.
Such conditions have resulted in small grain crop failures as well as reports of producers selling off livestock.
Little relief to the drought is in sight as the National Weather Service in Bismarck forecasts a high of 102 degrees on Friday with a 30 percent chance of a thunderstorm.
Temperatures will remain in the 90s throughout the weekend, which is expected to remain dry.
In response to the heat, Ministry on the Margins, 201 N. 24th St. in Bismarck, will be open extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Tuesday to offer a cool place for those in need of it.
Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and volunteers also will offer cold refreshments.
The Bismarck area has received about .10 inches of rain in July, according to Weather Underground.
The average total rainfall amount at this time is 9.84 inches.