Drought is deepening, and it’s now on Emporia’s doorstep.
The latest update from the US Drought Monitor has moderate drought, the second level of drought on its five-point scale, across the north half of Lyon County, as well as northeast Chase County, all but far southwest Morris County, the northern two-thirds of Osage County and all of Wabaunsee County. This pushes drought from the northwest corner of Lyon County to just north of Emporia, which remains abnormally dry — the first level of drought — along with the rest of the KVOE listening area.
The area has now been dry for a month after rainfall Sept. 18-20.
Nearly the entire state is under some level of drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. The Kansas Water Office has Lyon and most surrounding counties in a drought watch. The only exception, Wabaunsee County, is in a drought warning.
