Gov. Parson extends drought alert in Mo.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) - Governor Mike Parson extended a drought alert in Missouri on Friday, April 26.

According to a release from the governor’s office, he signed Executive Order 24-05, extending the alert to September 1.

The drought alert was set to expire on May 1.

This executive order helps coordinate resources and response efforts across the state until conditions have improved.

“Issuing a drought alert last spring was quite unprecedented, and unfortunately, the reality is we’re facing conditions worse now than a year ago,” Governor Parson said in a news release. “We welcome what rain Missouri has received in recent weeks, but this drought alert will continue so long as Missouri’s farmers and ranchers are struggling from the effects of prolonged dryness and concerns persist over commercial navigation along our riverways.”

According to the release, a lack of precipitation and below-normal streamflow over the past year have kept Missouri under the drought alert since May 31, 2023. Before that, a drought alert was active from July 2022 to March 2023.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Drought Assessment Committee coordinates the state and federal response to drought.

At its April 17 meeting, the committee recommended the drought alert’s extension after hearing expert testimony that conditions within the state haven’t significantly improved due to unseasonably warm weather and continued dry conditions. They said low streamflow within Missouri and a lack of plains and mountain snowpack were also cited as points of concern warranting the committee to continue its work into summer.

As of April 25, according to the governor’s office, 11 Missouri counties are experiencing severe drought, 71 counties are experiencing moderate drought and 86 counties are experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

The public can submit information about local drought conditions online at Condition Monitoring Observer Reports.