OTTUMWA —
In what is likely a surprise to no one, southeast Iowa slid deeper into drought in the past week, with parts of Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren counties now classified as severe drought situations.
The weather in the past week has been brutal, with daytime highs approaching 100 degrees. With no rain, the ground has baked. The area along the Missouri border is, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, in a severe drought, while the rest of the area is in a moderate drought.
There's little relief on the horizon. The forecast for July indicates below normal rainfall in an elipse that covers Iowa and Missouri, while running from central Kansas and Nebraska to western Ohio and Kentucky.
As bad as it is in Iowa, things are worse to the south. Most of Missouri is under severe drought conditions. Parts of southern Illinois, western Kentucky, southwestern Indiana and southeastern Missouri are in extreme drought.
A chance of rain is in the forecast for Saturday night through Sunday. But it doesn't look like a washout. The highest probability is on Sunday night, though it only hits 40 percent.
The good news, such as it is? Temperatures will retreat, with highs declining to around 90 degrees.
And let's face it: When is the last time 90 sounded like an improvement?
Southeast Iowa
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