Drought Information Statement for the Quad State Region Valid September 25, 2025 Issued By: WFO Paducah, Kentucky Contact Information: nws.paducah@noaa.gov This product will be updated if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/pah/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Severe drought persists across a large portion of the region. However, beneficial rain this past week has resulted in some improvement across portions of the region. Next week’s outlook will incorporate the wet conditions over the past several days and should be enough to help ease, but not eliminate, drought conditions. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for southeast MO, southern IL, southwest IN, and west KY Beneficial rainfall ranging from 1 to 5” (localized higher) brought welcome relief to the region over the past week. However, much of this fell after the 7 AM cutoff on Tuesday morning, and isn’t incorporated in this week’s outlook. Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Has expanded across more of western KY and continues in the bootheel of MO. (12% of our area) D2 (Severe Drought): Some improvement occurred across portions of southern IL, west KY, and southeast MO. (53% of our area is in D2 or worse drought) D1 (Moderate Drought): Nearly the entire region (92% coverage) is in at least D1 drought. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covers the other 8% of the area (small area of southwest IN and far northwest KY). Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 4-week change map for southeast MO, southern IL, southwest IN, and west KY One Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Improved: Across the Ozark Foothills of Missouri, areas of southern Illinois along Route 13, and portions of northwest Kentucky. Drought Worsened: A small sliver of far southern Illinois along with portions of the Jackson Purchase/Lakes area of west Kentucky. Precipitation Most of the region received anywhere from 1 to 5” of rain over the past week, with localized higher amounts across southeast Missouri and west Kentucky. A good amount of this rain fell after the data cutoff for this week’s outlook though and won’t be incorporated until next week. Last 7 Day Total and Percent of Normal Last 30 Day Average and Departure Temperature Temperatures averaged near to slightly below normal over the past month. We had a prolonged period of well below normal temperatures from August 24th through September 9th. After that, a warm spell brought highs in the upper 80s to 90s from the 10th through 20th. Slightly above normal temps continued after that. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts 14 day streamflows, according to USGS data, are below the 25th percentile in some locations. Many areas still have near average streamflows though, thanks to a very wet first half of the year. Agricultural Impacts Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMORs) over the past several weeks indicated ponds drying up, dead grass, crop impacts and potential reduced crop yield in areas in D1 or worse drought. Farmers had begun supplemental feeding of livestock. Fire Hazard Impacts All burn bans have been lifted for now it appears. Other Impacts There have been reports of low farm pond levels and instances of leaves turning color and starting to drop. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Rivers have steadily fallen across the region since the beginning of August. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Rivers have steadily fallen across the region since the beginning of August. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture has shown quite a bit of improvement over the past week across the lower Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys. Fire Hazard Impacts The rain we received this past week has lifted the burn bans in all counties. Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Month 2 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Month 3 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Month 4 Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Very limited rain, if any, is expected over the next week. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Long range trends favor above normal temperatures in October. A lean towards drier than normal conditions is also favored. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is expected to linger through the next month. The rain this past week helped, but we may go right back into a prolonged dry period which could lead to worsening drought in parts of the area in October. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook