LITTLE ROCK — Less than 9 percent of Arkansas is now under the worst category of drought, according to a weekly report on the dry conditions that shows continued improvement across much of the state.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday and reflecting conditions through Tuesday morning, shows 8.74 percent of Arkansas is under an exceptional drought. The affected area is restricted to parts of 10 counties in northwest and north-central Arkansas. Last week, more than 12 percent of the state was in an exceptional drought.
The latest report shows improvement in the second-worst category of drought as well. Nearly 42 percent of Arkansas remains in an extreme drought, down from 46.27 percent last week.
More than 91 percent of the state is still considered to be in at least a moderate drought.
At one point in mid-August, more than 50 percent of Arkansas was in the worst category of drought. Conditions have been steadily improving in recent weeks as storms, including remnants of Hurricane Isaac, dropped rain on the state.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.