Drought expands across the state following a record-dry August

Mid-Missouri has been drying out quickly in recent weeks after a fairly wet summer. The latest drought monitor now shows 30% of the state in drought, and there isn't much rain expected through mid-September.

Missouri was drought-free just over a month ago, as summer rain amounts stayed above average. In Columbia, 13.33 inches of rain fell from the start of June to the end of August, compared to an average of 12.5 inches for the summer. It was the 12th wettest June on record, with 7.91 inches of rain to start the season.

However, rain totals stagnated as August arrived. It was the second driest August ever recorded in Columbia, with only 0.11 inches of rain throughout the entire month. This ties for the sixth driest month ever for Columbia, and it was the driest month since February 2006.

That lack of measurable rain has caused rain deficits to rise above 2 inches for much of Mid-Missouri, which will take some time to recover. Over 90% of the state is now drier than average, and the forecast remains drier through the next 8 to 14 days. The seasonal outlook from September to November also indicates drier-than-normal conditions across our area and the South-Central United States.