Belt Of Abnormal Dryness Along Katy Trail
Drought conditions in Missouri as of April 18th, 2023. (The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Two patches of abnormal dryness in Missouri are now one belt stretching from Hannibal to Joplin.  This week’s US Drought Monitor has added all or parts of Bates, Benton, Cedar, Cole, Cooper, Henry, Hickory, Moniteau, Morgan, Pettis, Polk and Saint Clair counties to areas impacted by abnormal dryness.  A patch of moderate drought in northwestern Callaway County and severe drought in western Barton County remain unchanged for a second week.  1.8 percent of Missouri remain in some stage of drought, while 12.1 percent in abnormal dryness.