While the overall drought conditions in the contiguous United States have not changed much in the last four weeks, the weekly Drought Monitor shows the dry conditions are intensifying in the High Plains. 95 percent of Nebraska is now in extreme drought, 84 percent of Kansas is in extreme drought while South Dakota has nearly 57 percent in extreme drought. To the south, 75 percent of Oklahoma is in extreme drought.

Overall, the High Plains have 84 percent in severe drought, 57 percent extreme drought and 27 percent exceptional drought. In the Midwest: 30 percent severe drought, 11 percent extreme and 0.28 percent in exceptional drought. Nationally, the continental United States has 59 percent in moderate drought, 38 percent severe drought, 19 percent extreme and 6 percent in exceptional drought.

Read the latest Drought Monitor here: