The weekly US Drought Monitor update on Thursday reports 16 percent of Marion County is now in the moderate drought category and the rest of the county is listed as abnormally dry. The area falling in the moderate drought category is across the very southern part of the county and the northwest corner.
Statewide, nearly 15 percent of the state is listed in severe drought. It includes the Chicago area and then across parts of northeastern and north central Illinois. Just over 50 percent is in the moderate drought category and the remaining 34 percent is listed as abnormally dry.
The only rain in South Central Illinois last week was very spotty, but both Salem and Centralia reported about an inch and a quarter of precipitation.
