While some areas have received a few scattered showers, the small amount of rain has not been enough to slow the rise in drought levels in the Lakes Region.
The latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor issued on Thursday shows that areas along and west of a Branson-Harrison Line are in Extreme Drought, the next to highest level posted by the monitor.
Extreme Drought levels indicate lowering water levels with rising fire risk levels as well as potential damage to fall crops and vegetation.
Areas east of the Branson-Harrison line are at a Severe Drought level with lower levels in the eastern parts of the Lakes Region, especially in Ozark County in Missouri and Marion County in Arkansas. Some of those regions received remnants of recent hurricanes that helped with their rainfall totals.
While temperatures will warm back up early next week, the National Weather Service indicates that a changing weather pattern will bring a significant chance of rain to the Lakes Region middle of next week.
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