Drought Information Statement for the Missouri Ozarks Valid March 12, 2026 Issued By: WFO Springfield, MO Contact Information: contact.sgf@noaa.gov This product will be updated by April 9, 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 Improves Across the Ozarks Region Drought Intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Limited across extreme south-central and southeast Missouri. D2 (Severe Drought): Limited across southern and extreme northeast Missouri and southeast Kansas. D1 (Moderate Drought): Across most of southern and northern Missouri. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Persists across much of the state. Required Slide State Drought Monitor Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways ● Drought conditions have improved by at least one category across much of Missouri due to moderate to locally heavy rainfall since March 1st. ● D3 drought persists only across extreme south-central Missouri where locations have received less rainfall. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways Drought conditions have improved by at least 1 category over the last 1 to 4 weeks due to several rounds of widespread rainfall. Precipitation Main Takeaways Most locations across southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas have actually observed above-normal precipitation over the last 30 days. The greatest precipitation anomalies have been atop the Ozark Plateau and portions of the eastern Ozarks. Required Slide Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts ● Near normal to below normal risk for river flooding this spring. ● However, the flash flooding potential will ultimately be event-driven and determined by local thunderstorm rainfall amounts. ● Streamflows are near to above normal. Agricultural Impacts ● There were no Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMORs) from the last 7 days across the entire states of Missouri and Kansas. Fire Hazard Impacts ● Widespread rainfall has limited the number of prescribed burns and wildfires since March 1st. Finer fuels remain susceptible. Other Impacts ● N/A 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 normal to above normal across southeast Kansas Streamflow percentiles over the past 7 days still had several below normal areas across the Missouri Ozarks, especially the Elk River basin. Image Caption: : USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map - Kansas. Image Caption: : USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map - Missouri. These maps are discontinuing in February! Closest thing I could find from USGS to these maps can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/state/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 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 Water Conditions. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts These maps are discontinuing in February! Closest thing I could find from USGS to these maps can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/state/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 Soil moisture conditions have improved over the last month but remain below normal across the state Crop Moisture Index from March 1st - March 7th was above 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 Most locations are forecast to receive at least light precipitation over the next 7 days. The heaviest rainfall is forecast across northeast Missouri. Some of this precipitation could fall as snow on Sunday, particularly across central and northern Missouri. 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 strongly favors above-normal temperatures and slightly favors below-normal precipitation for the March 19th-25th period. Monthly Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal favors above-normal temperatures for the month of March. There is a slight signal for above-normal precipitation across the eastern portions of Missouri for March. Seasonal Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal slightly favors chances of above-normal temperatures, but there are equal chances for precipitation for the period of March to May. Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook | Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Main Takeaways Drought likely to persist through February but show some potential improvement in late Winter/Spring across the eastern Ozarks. 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