JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Drought conditions across the state are worsening under continued warm, dry and sometimes windy conditions and are not expected to improve soon, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The department is asking for the public’s assistance, encouraging people to submit reports about drought conditions in their local area. Drought-related information for a specific area can be easily completed and submitted via an online survey to the national Condition Monitoring Observer Reports service.
“Reports of local conditions are a key tool in assessing the changing drought situation,” said Erin Fanning, director of the department’s Water Resources Center. “These reports help local, state and national decision makers assess drought conditions and impacts in Missouri.”
Drought conditions expanded this week from 82 to 94 percent of Missouri impacted. Drought intensity also increased, with 30 percent of the state now experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. The drought’s primary impacts are to agriculture and barge traffic during the harvest.
A variety of helpful online resources are available at dnr.mo.gov/drought. The one-stop drought information website features current drought-related news, a series of Missouri drought maps and current condition reports, the U.S. Drought Monitor, Missouri’s Drought Plan and other resources, including information on past droughts.