SEMO (News First) – Drought conditions have returned to a portion of southeast Missouri. The U.S.D.A.’s latest Drought Monitor map of the state, released this Thursday morning, shows moderate drought now being experienced in nearly all of Bollinger and Madison counties, along with portions of Cape Girardeau, Perry, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Scott and Stoddard counties. Much of the rest of southeast Missouri has been placed in the category of abnormally dry. Meteorologist Brad Rippey says Missouri is not alone as far as dry conditions go.

Going west from Shannon County and western Crawford and Dent counties, normal conditions are being experienced. That is until you reach parts of Douglass, Greene and Dallas counties to the western side of the state where those areas are also experiencing a couple pockets of moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions.