Drought Information Statement for the Missouri Ozarks Valid January 8, 2026 Issued By: WFO Springfield, MO Contact Information: contact.sgf@noaa.gov This product will be updated by February 5, 2026 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 Persists and Expands Across the Ozarks Region Drought Intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): Cedar, Polk, Dade, Lawrence, Greene, Webster, Howell, Oregon, McDonald, Christian, Stone, Taney, Barry and Shannon Counties in Missouri. D1 (Moderate Drought): Bourbon, Crawford and Cherokee Counties in Kansas. Vernon, Barton, Jasper, St.Clair, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Cedar, Hickory, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Maries, Polk, Dallas, Webster, Texas, Christian, Stone, Taney, Ozark, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Shannon Counties in Missouri. D0: (Abnormally Dry): McDonald, Barry, Stone, St.Clair, Benton, Hickory, Dallas, Laclede, Morgan, Miller, Maries, Phelps, Webster, Wright, Texas, Dent, Douglas, Howell, and Shannon Counties in Missouri. Required Slide State Drought Monitor Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways ● A near Record Dry December has allowed Drought conditions to expand across some portions of the Missouri Ozarks. ● Drought conditions persist across southeast Kansas. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways Drought conditions remained unchanged or got worse by 1 to 2 categories for some locations across the area over the last 4 weeks. Localized areas of degradation occurred in the last week for portions of the Missouri Ozarks. Precipitation Main Takeaways Precipitation was well below normal across much of the area over the last 30 days after a near record dry December 2025. 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 continue to see below to well below normal streamflows, with reports of small creeks, streams, and ponds nearly dried up with large cracks in soil. Agricultural Impacts ● Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMORs) from the last 7 days were limited as the active growing season ended in the fall, however dry conditions over the D1 and D2 areas continued the following: ○ Supplementing feed and feeding hay early (since August for some) 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: “Severe drought going into winter is devastating to my farm.” Fire Hazard Impacts ● Increased risk of fires this winter fire season due to below normal precipitation, above normal temperatures, and dry soils. A few wildfires have occurred across the region over the past 30 days. Other Impacts ● There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation actions The Missouri Drought Alert issued by the Governor has been extended through April 1, 2026. 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 below to well below normal across portions of southeast KS into southwest MO. 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 January 6th soil moisture was below average across much of the area. Crop Moisture Index from December 21st - December 27th was around normal. https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Soilmst_Monitoring/Figures/daily/curr.w.rank.daily.gif https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/drought.shtml New graphics in the works (as cited by webpage linked above) Fire Hazard Impacts Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Main Takeaways Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Main Takeaways Portions of the Ozarks are expected to receive precipitation over the next 7 days Rainfall amounts from 0.50” to 1.00” are forecast with some localized amounts in excess of and inch possible. 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 near to below normal temperatures and near normal precipitation for the January 15th - 21st timeframe. Monthly Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal favors equal chances for above/below normal temperatures and equal chances of above/below normal precipitation for the most of Missouri with a lead towards above normal precipitation for eastern portions of the statemonth of January. Seasonal Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal slightly favors equal chances of above/below normal temperatures and near to above normal precipitation for the period of January to March. Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook | Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Main Takeaways Drought likely to persist through January but show some potential improvement in late Winter (February through March). Required Slide Additional Drought Resources For Additional Information NWS Springfield Webpage | IDSS Point Forecasts 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