(3:00PM Mon, August 28th 2023) The latest NOAA drought monitor update valid Tuesday August 22nd, 2023 shows that much of Illinois continues to experience abnormally dry (D0) to severe drought (D2) conditions. While conditions have greatly improved across the state over the past two months or so, the lack of consistent and widespread rain/t’storms across the state over the past one to two weeks has lead to maintenance and a leveling off of conditions. The weather pattern over the next week will support little chances for widespread and consistent rain/t’storms across the state, which will lead to a maintenance of drought conditions for some areas, while conditions may revert to worsen in other areas.

Impacts…
•Widespread abnormally dry (D0) to severe drought (D2) conditions exist across much of the state.
•Drought conditions have maintained and leveled off across the state, since the previous update on August 17th.

​The next drought monitor update will be on Thursday, August 31st.