Drought Information Statement for the Missouri Ozarks Valid April 9, 2026 Issued By: WFO Springfield, MO Contact Information: contact.sgf@noaa.gov This product will be updated by May 8, 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. Includes southeastern Howell and southern Oregon counties. D2 (Severe Drought): Limited across extreme southeast Missouri. Includes Howell, Oregon, and Shannon counties. D1 (Moderate Drought): Across southern Missouri and southeast Kansas. Includes portions of Newton, McDonald, Barry, Stone, Taney, Christian, Ozark, Howell, and Shannon counties in Missouri and Cherokee county in Kansas. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Across southeast Kansas into southern Missouri. Includes Barton, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Barry, Stone, Christian, Greene, Webster, Wright, Taney, Douglas, Ozark, Texas, Howell, Oregon, and Shannon counties in Missouri and Crawford and Bourbon counties in Kansas. Required Slide State Drought Monitor Link to Recent Change Maps Main Takeaways ● Drought conditions have had no change or improved by at least one category across much of Missouri due to a few rounds of heavy rainfall over the last month. ● 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 had no change or improved by at least 1 category over the last 1 to 4 weeks due to a few rounds of widespread rainfall. Precipitation Main Takeaways Most locations across southwest into south central Missouri have observed below-normal precipitation over the last 30 days. Meanwhile, portions of southeast Kansas into west central and central Missouri have observed above-normal precipitation. The greatest precipitation amounts occurred across west central into central Missouri. 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 north of Highway 60, and below to much below normal south of Highway 60. Agricultural Impacts ● In areas still experiencing dry to drought conditions: ● Pastures are providing marginal feed, and supplemental feeding is required. ● Very low water levels in ponds have been reported, leading to animal stress. Fire Hazard Impacts ● Widespread rainfall and the beginning of green-up has limited the number of prescribed burns and wildfires since March 1st. Finer fuels still remain susceptible especially on drier and windier days. Other Impacts ● N/A Mitigation actions The Missouri Drought Alert issued by the Governor has been extended through September 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 Needs Updated. KP 4/10 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/ (see next slide) 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 naer to above normal north of Highway 60, and below to well below normal south of Highway 60 Image Caption: USGS Water Conditions. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts 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 29th - April 4th 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 a beneficial 1 to 2 inches of rainfall over the next 7 days. Localized higher rainfsall amounts can be expected where repeated thunderstorms track over the same locations. The heaviest rainfall is forecast across southeast Kansas into southwest and west central 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 above-normal precipitation for the Apirl 17th-23rd period. Monthly Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Main Takeaways The signal favors above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation for April. 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 April to June. 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