Drought expanding, temperatures rising over the next week

After one of the wettest starts to the year on record through early July, a prolonged dry period since then has developed a growing area of severe drought conditions. 

About 90 percent of our quad state area is now experiencing D-1 or moderate drought. 

Most recently, areas of D-2 or severe drought has been added to portions of southeast Missouri, part of the Jackson Purchase in western Kentucky, and a sliver of southwestern Illinois.

Western Kentucky joins the entire states of Illlinois, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio as receiving less than 25 percent of its usual rainfall during this dry stretch. 

That corresponds with many rivers and streams at just 25 percent of their usual water flow.

Agricultural reports include stress on quickly drying corn and soybean crops, and poor pasture conditions.

Drought is expected to worsen in the coming weeks during a continuation of very dry conditions. The next week in particular will also be quite hot, with highs in the mid to upper 90s, which may cause more rapid deterioration compared to the past couple of weeks.