SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — The latest drought monitor update from the USDA (US Department of Agriculture), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), CPC (Climate Prediction Center), and the NDMC (National Drought Mitigation Center) is in.

The NDMC released the latest drought monitor update on Thursday, October 23rd. This latest update shows expansion of moderate drought conditions through northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota and slight expansion of Abnormally dry conditions through NW Iowa.

In Iowa, abnormally dry conditions have expanded, from 53.19% of the Hawkeye state with last week’s update to 64.01% this week, a 10.82% increase in coverage. That includes right here in Siouxland where we now see all of Ida, Sac, Pocahontas, and Calhoun counties categorized as abnormally dry, as well as, far northeastern Monona and northern/northeastern Crawford counties now included.

Moderate drought coverage remains largely unchanged in northwest Iowa. Across the state, there was actually a decrease in moderate drought coverage, from 4.72% to 4.61% of Iowa. No other level of drought is currently in place in Iowa. In total, just 35.99% of the state is drought-free, a decline of 10.82% from last week’s 46.81%.

The most notable changes though are through NE Nebraska, where moderate drought has expanded. Eastern Knox, far northeastern Antelope, northern Pierce & Wayne counties, all of Cedar County, most of Dixon County, and western portions of Dakota county are all now in moderate drought.

Throughout the Cornhusker state, 12.30% of the area is categorized as being in moderate drought, an increase of 3.22% from last week’s 9.08%. However, drought coverage overall has decreased, from 36.63% last week to 34.78% this week, a decrease of 1.84%. That leaves 65.22% of the state now drought-free! No other level of drought is currently in place in Nebraska.

Also, almost all of SE South Dakota saw expansion of drought conditions, with all of Yankton, Clay, and Lincoln counties, as well as the bulk of Union County now categorized as being in moderate drought. The southernmost portions of Union County, including North Sioux City, remain abnormally dry.

In total, 68.36% of the Rushmore state is considered drought free, a slight decrease of 0.04%, with an increase in coverage of Abnormally dry conditions to 31.64%. Moderate drought saw the most significant increase, from 5.48% of the state last week, to 6.44% with this week’s update. No other level of drought is currently in place in South Dakota.

Finally, throughout the Missouri River Basin, drought coverage overall decreased, from 48.90% of the area last week to just 44.59% this week, a decrease of 4.31%. That leaves over half of the basin, or 55.41%, drought-free, an improvement of 4.31%. Moderate drought encompasses 20.72% of the Missouri River Basin, up 0.16% from last week, severe drought has decreased in coverage, from 7.16% to 5.17% and extreme drought has also decreased, from 0.86% of the basin to 0.62%, a 0.24% decrease in coverage.

The next drought monitor update, encompassing the period from Tuesday, October 21st through Tuesday, October 28th will be posted on Thursday, October 30th. Unfortunately only seeing a few rain chances through this data collection period with limited appreciable rainfall expected even with those rain chances.

You can view drought monitor data and maps anytime here.