West Plains, MO. – Drought conditions persist in the Ozarks despite precipitation received over the last two weeks. A Burn Ban remains in place in Oregon County while the burn ban for Howell was lifted a week ago.
The most recent report from the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday, August 4, shows that the majority of drought-effected counties are south of the Missouri River with the most severe drought conditions to be in counties in the southwest part of the state. The most extreme of these conditions is rated as D3-Extreme Drought and extends into portions of Wright and Douglas counties. The majority of counties along the Arkansas-Missouri border are under D2-Severe Drought conditions.
Signs of a D3-Extreme Drought include mature tree death, decreases in insect populations, drying of surface and near-surface water such as ponds and wells, and major crop losses. While D2-Severe Drought conditions remain in much of the area, effects will include stressed trees with dead or dying leaves, smaller vegetable yields, and large cracks in the soil.
