Drought in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Following a very dry August, during which most of Southeast Missouri receiving an inch of rain or less, including the 2nd driest August on record at Poplar Bluff and 6th driest August at Cape Girardeau, at least Severe Drought (D2) conditions developed in all of Southeast Missouri during September. Most of Southeast Missouri, from Van Buren and Doniphan to Sikeston and New Madrid, entered Severe Drought early September. Mid-month, Severe Drought expanded across the remainder of Southeast Missouri, and an area from Butler to Mississippi Counties rose to Extreme Drought (D3). Heavy rainfall from the 20th-24th resulted in significant improvement in drought conditions with Severe Drought only continuing into October for the Van Buren to Charleston corridor, despite above normal September rainfall in that area, and Perry County, which received below normal September rainfall. Agricultural impacts from the drought occurred heading into harvest season. Burn bans were briefly instituted in some areas as a result of the drought. Several field fires occurred in Southeast Missouri during September.