As of Oct. 29, the Drought Monitor showed 87% of the U.S. was covered by abnormal dryness/drought, up eight percentage points from the previous week. USDA estimated 62% of the U.S. winter wheat crop was experiencing drought conditions, up four points from last week. Rains across areas of the Plains and Midwest this week should improve drought conditions, but they won’t remove them.
In HRW areas, dryness/drought covered 98% of Kansas (4% D3, no D4), 60% of Colorado (3% D3, no D4), 92% of Oklahoma (42% D3, no D4), 91% of Texas (16% D3 or D4), 100% of Nebraska (8% D3, no D4), 100% of South Dakota (10% D3, no D4) and 85% of Montana (14% D3 or D4).
In SRW areas, dryness/drought covered 95% of Missouri (18% D3, no D4), 100% of Illinois (no D3 or D4), 100% of Indiana (no D3 or D4), 87% of Ohio (20% D3 or D4), 99% of Michigan (virtually no D3, no D4), 82% of Kentucky (no D3 or D4) and 73% of Tennessee (virtually no D3, no D4).
Click here to view related maps.