Drought Assessment Committee has public online meeting Tuesday to discuss drought status

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee will hold its fourth meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the status of the state’s drought.

The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed via Webex. A link to the meeting can be found here.

Gov. Mike Parson on Nov. 28 issued an executive order to extend Missouri’s drought alert until March 1, 2023, to address issues outlined by the state’s Drought Assessment Committee.

Currently, 87% of Missouri face abnormally dry conditions, with many counties -- including Boone, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, Pettis and Saline -- still experiencing moderate, severe, or extreme drought, according to the release. Drought conditions are not expected to substantially improve this winter.

On July 21, Parson issued an executive order declaring a drought alert for 53 counties that were hit hardest by drought conditions. While conditions have improved marginally since that time, drought has continued to create challenges. That order was set to expire Dec. 1.

Updated drought information is available on the Department of Natural Resources' website.