Drought Information Statement for the Missouri Ozarks Valid November 13, 2025 Issued By: WFO Springfield, MO Contact Information: contact.sgf@noaa.gov This product will be updated December 11, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/sgf/SGFDroughtMonitor for additional information. Required Slide 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Lower Midwest Drought Deepens and Expands Across the Ozarks Region Drought Intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Has been removed from southwest Missouri. D2 (Severe Drought): St. Clair, Benton, Cedar, Vernon, Barton, Jasper, Dallas, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Stone, Taney, Wright, Laclede, Texas, Howell, Oregon, and Shannon Counties in Missouri. ○D1 (Moderate Drought): Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee Counties in Kansas. Vernon, Barton, Jasper, Newton, Morgan, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Dallas, Benton, Camden, Laclede, Howell, Shannon, Dent, Pulaski, and Texas Counties in Missouri. ○D0: (Abnormally Dry): Bourbon and Cherokee Counties in Kansas. Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Barry, Texas, Wright, Laclede, Pulaski, Phelps, Camdenton, Dallas, Morgan, Benton, Hickory Counties in Missouri. Required Slide State Drought Monitor Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways ● Drought has improved across some portions of the Missouri Ozarks but still persist for many locations. ● Drought conditions persist across southeast Kansas. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways Drought conditions have improved by 1 or 2 categories for many locations across the area over the last 4 weeks. Little to no change has occurred in the last week. Precipitation Main Takeaways Precipitation has been near to slightly above normal atop the Ozark plateau over the last 30 days. Portions of south-central and northern Missouri saw well below-normal precipitation. Required Slide Link to HPRCC Temperature Main Takeaways Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts ● A number of locations are seeing below normal streamflows, with reports of small creeks, streams, and ponds nearly dried up. Agricultural Impacts ● Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMORs) from the last 7 days indicate severely dry conditions. ○ Supplementing feed and feeding hay early (some for 60+ days already) with dead grass and little to no regrowth ○ Lack of water for livestock requiring water hauling, reduced water quality where water remains ○ Decreased stock weights, animal stress and livestock mortality, and farmers selling livestock to reduce hay and water consumption ○ Early crop harvests, crop stress and failures, reduced crop yields, increases in invasive insects, erosion (no-till practices not helping), inability to plant fall forage for lack of moisture ○ Farmers report “going into winter this low [on water and feed] is going to be a major issue” Fire Hazard Impacts ● Increased risk of fires and potential early onset of fall fire season due to below normal precipitation, above normal temperatures, and dry soils. Other Impacts ● There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation actions Many farmers and ranchers continued to haul water for livestock, supplement feed and herd culling is occuring. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has an AgriStress Helpline at 833-897-2474. More information is available at muext.us/PSCFarmRanch. Required Slide Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Main Takeaways Streamflow percentiles over the past 7 days were near normal across most of the area, with a few locations seeing below normal streamflow. Image Caption: : USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map - Kansas. Image Caption: : USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map - Missouri. https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/index.php?m=pa07d_nwc&r=ks&w=map https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/index.php?id=pa07d&sid=w__map%7Cm__pa07d_nwc&r=mo Agricultural Impacts Main Takeaways November 12th soil moisture was below to well below average across much of the area, with portions of central Missouri seeing well below average soil moisture. Crop Moisture Index ending Oct 26th was below average. https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Soilmst_Monitoring/Figures/daily/curr.w.rank.daily.gif https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/cmi.gif Fire Hazard Impacts Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Main Takeaways Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Main Takeaways Models continue to favor an active pattern heading into the week of November 16th. Most areas are expected to receive at least 0.25” of rain over the next seven days. The best signal for the heaviest rain is across far southern Missouri and locations south of there. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Hazards Outlook Main Takeaways Models continue to favor an active pattern heading into the week of November 16th. Risk of heavy precipitation for parts of the Southern Plains, Lower and Middle Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys centered around Wednesday, Nov 19th and Thursday, Nov 20th. 8 to 14 Day Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal favors better chances for above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation in the Nov 21-27 time period. Monthly Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal slightly favors above normal temperatures and equal chances of above/below normal precipitation for the month of November. Seasonal Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal slightly favors above normal temperatures and equal chances of above/below normal precipitation for the period of Nov through Jan. Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook | Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Main Takeaways Drought likely to persist through January. Required Slide Additional Drought Resources For Additional Information NWS Springfield Webpage | IDSS Point Forecasts NWS Springfield Drought Monitor Resources Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook Missouri Drought Monitor | Kansas Drought Monitor Drought Monitor Archive CPC Drought Information National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) Missouri USGS Streamflows | Kansas USGS Streamflows Drought Safety