Wisconsin’s Drought Eases a Bit

The drought has eased slightly in southern Wisconsin, according to the USDA’s new drought monitor map released Thursday.

Ed Hopkins, Wisconsin’s Assistant State Climatologist, says recent rain showers have resulted in Extreme Drought Conditions being scaled back, “There’s been some improvement in the area down across the southern tier of counties primarily from Grant County on the West over toward Racine and Kenosha on the East. A week ago the extreme drought conditions had gone up to as far as Wisconsin Dells.”

Locations that were previously in Severe Drought Conditions have mostly stayed the same under the new map, although parts of Sheboygan County were downgraded to Moderate Drought Conditions.

The USDA says the extreme drought that still persists in far southern Wisconsin will likely result in major crop or pasture losses. The Agriculture Department says nearly 90% of the nation’s corn and soybean crops are in areas experiencing drought.