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Drought Conditions Remain Despite Recent Rain

Eric Leubehusen/USDA

Drought conditions are not improving across portions of Central and Western Illinois despite recent rainfall. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to list all of Peoria county and portions of Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Fulton and McLean counties as “abnormally dry” in its weekly update released Thursday.

Abnormally dry is the lowest of five intensity levels used to measure drought conditions across the United States. Large swaths of Hancock County and a section extreme northwest Adams County along the Mississippi River are now labeled “moderate drought” areas for the first time this month due to worsening conditions.

Temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s are forecasted across the Greater Peoria area for the next seven days with only a chance of rain Friday night.

 

Kristin McHugh is an experienced radio journalist and nonprofit manager. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.