EXTREME DROUGHT CONTINUES AFTER RAIN

SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 - SOUTWEST, MO

The U.S. Drought Monitor released today showed nearly all of Southwest Missouri in a severe drought, with many areas classified as an extreme drought.

The long overdue rain this week was not enough to cancel standing burn bans in Lawrence and Barry Counties. Most surrounding counties are also continuing their burn bans until further notice as fire departments through the region have been responding to heavy volumes of vegetation fires for weeks.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report is released each Thursday and is a factor for fire departments and emergency management offices when determining the issuance of bans. The latest reports can be found at drought monitor.unl.edu. If you are unsure of the current status of bans in your area, contact your local fire department.