Extreme Drought Warnings Just Issued for Parts of Missouri

Missouri needs rain. Missouri has needed rain for months. Now, we need to hope and pray for a winter with ample amounts of snow as several parts of the state have been issued extreme drought warnings.

A vast majority of Missouri has been under some level of drought concern for more than a year

The newest update to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources drought status map shows several areas of the southwestern portion of the state are now under the level 3 extreme drought alert. The added "Conditions persist, with 97% of the state experiencing abnormally dry or drier conditions." The US Drought Monitor says this status was just updated a few days ago.

How can Missouri recover from the ongoing drought?

The easiest answer is a winter with ample amounts of snowfall. While the Climate Prediction Center is now predicting an above average winter for precipitation, Missouri specifically is not a part of that forecast. Their meteorologists currently say that Missouri right now looks to see an average winter of snow.

I have many Missouri friends who are farmers and my grandmother was a farmer. I know how vital it is that the state get the right amount of precipitation at the right time. Unless Missouri sees an uptick of snow over the next four months, the state is likely to be dealing with terrible drought conditions during planting season next Spring.