Drought conditions are continuing to expand in southern Illinois, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map. It shows Wayne County and areas to the northwest and southwest in the southern Illinois region in Moderate Drought conditions as of this past Thursday. All of southern Illinois south of a Springfield-Decatur-Champaign line is in at least Abnormally Dry conditions.
The region has now went several days without significant rainfall, and has experienced mostly sunny conditions with temperatures running a few degrees above normal. Extended forecasts indicate the trend is expected to continue for next week, with no rain in the forecast through at least Friday of next week. The extended forecasts also favor above normal temperatures continuing. Conditions in southern and southwest Missouri are more extreme, with those areas shown in an Extreme Drought and Exceptional Drought. There are indications of a possible pattern change which may bring more unsettled weather and chances for rain to the area around Halloween.
With the dry conditions, area rivers remain quite low. The latest stage on the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is 4.69 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet.