While the heavy rain put a dent in the recent conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor still has the Lakes Region at elevated drought conditions.
With the area recently receiving six plus inches of rain, the latest map released Thursday has reduced the level in the central and western part of the lakes area from Extreme to Severe. The rain has helped raise water levels but still more precipitation is needed to continue the trend of reduced drought that developed from the 30 plus days without rain along with sporadic precipitation during the summer.
The severe drought level covers all or most of Boone, Carroll, Madison, and Newton Counties in Arkansas as well as Barry, Stone, and Taney Counties in Missouri. The rest of the region including Arkansas's Marion and Searcy Counties and Missouri's Ozark County are at a Moderate level or lower.
More rain is in the forecast for the weekend around the lakes region which could further reduce the drought conditions.
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