Southern Montgomery County is now in extreme drought.

 

That's the latest from the U.S. Drought Monitor report, which puts southern Montgomery County in the D3 or extreme drought category, one step below the worst drought which is D4.

 

The drought situation in northeast Oklahoma has gotten much worse in just a week, with eight counties in northeast Oklahoma at least partially in D3. Extreme drought is also now extending to the southwest corner of Missouri and extreme northwest Arkansas.

 

USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says topsoil moisture continues to decrease in many area states.

 

K-State Research and Extension Wildcat District Crop Agent James Coover says the drought is making it difficult to plant winter wheat.

 

Coover says winter wheat can be planted into November, so there should still be time to get the crop in provided we get some rain. According to the Climate Prediction Center, the 8 – 14 day outlook calls for an above average chance of rain for Kansas and Oklahoma.