Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky have issued another Freeze Warning for Wayne, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin and Saline counties in southern Illinois from 11 p.m. tonight until 8 a.m. Sunday. Low temperatures are expected to drop to around 30 degrees overnight tonight, which should end the growing season for the area.
Dry weather is also expected until at least Wednesday of next week, when the next chance of showers is in the forecast. Longer range outlooks continue to favor above normal temperatures.
Despite recent rainfall, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map as of Thursday now shows parts of Wayne County and Clay County, and areas to the southwest in Severe Drought conditions. Most of southern Illinois is now in a Moderate Drought. Area rivers remain low, including the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield. Its latest stage is 4.25 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet.