Despite spotty downpours over the past several days, the drought continues to worsen. Recent rain has been too scattered and too light to really alleviate the ongoing drought. Rainfall amounts over the past 60 days have been roughly 20 to 30% of normal across much of the area.

The result is a "flash drought" that has spread quickly across the Ozarks. Severe drought conditions now cover most of Southern Missouri and half of Northern Arkansas. Within that area, extreme drought conditions are now showing up in the Bootheel area of Missouri, south into Northeast Arkansas.

Fields and forests are showing the strain. Trees are prematurely turning color and dropping, in an effort to survive the dry conditions. This will impact the display of fall color, resulting in muted colors.

There is some

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