Portions of quad state now under extreme drought

The latest USDA drought monitor shows nearly our entire region under severe drought conditions, and now a portion of the quad state has entered extreme drought.

This week's map issued Thursday has expanded D-2 coverage (level 3 out of 5) for virtually all of southern Illinois and western Kentucky. 

Meanwhile, the driest part of the central U.S. is expanding here in the lower Ohio Valley.

Our first taste of extreme D-3 drought (level 4 out of 5) has been established in much of southeast Missouri, northwest Tennessee, and a narrow strip of Kentucky in the southwest corner along the Tennessee border.

Burn bans have been in place for all westernmost Kentucky counties, and many communities in southern Illinois. Fires involving farm equipment and fields have been occurring, and will still be a threat with very low daytime humidity and dry crops readying for harvest. A water emergency has also been in place in Marion, Kentucky.

The prospect of rain next week is gaining some traction, but the forecast is still uncertain as to the frequency and amount of possible precipitation.