Drought Information Statement for the Missouri Ozarks Valid December 11, 2025 Issued By: WFO Springfield, MO Contact Information: contact.sgf@noaa.gov This product will be updated by January 8, 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 Persists Across the Ozarks Region Drought Intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): Cedar, Polk, Dade, Lawrence, Greene, Webster, Howell, Oregon, and Shannon Counties in Missouri. D1 (Moderate Drought): Bourbon County in Kansas. Vernon, Barton, Jasper,St.Clair, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Morgan, Cedar, Hickory, Dade, Lawrence, Barry, Maries, Polk, Dallas, Webster, Texas, Christian, Stone, Taney, Ozark, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Shannon Counties in Missouri. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Crawford and Cherokee Counties in Kansas. Vernon, Barton, Jasper, Newton, 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 ● 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 remained unchanged or improved 1 category for many locations across the area over the last 4 weeks. Little to no change has occurred in the last week outside of an addition of D0 to McDonald and Newton Counties in Missouri. Precipitation Main Takeaways Precipitation has been below normal across much of the area over the last 30 days. 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 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 indicate severely dry conditions over the D1 and D2 areas. ○ 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. 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 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 December 9th soil moisture was below average across much of the area. Crop Moisture Index from November 30th - December 6th was slightly above normal in a few locations. 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 Little to no precipitation chances over the next 7 days 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 near to below normal precipitation for the December 18th - 24th 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 month of December. 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 equal chances of above/below normal precipitation for the period of December to February. Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook | Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Main Takeaways Drought likely to persist through late Winter (January and February). 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