The latest drought monitor is released. Most of our area is now in a severe drought.

Bad news for most of southeastern Wisconsin.  The recent drought monitor has the majority of our area now in a severe drought.  Western Jefferson county is now in an extreme drought that extends west towards Madison. 

While July has started on a better note, most of the area is really paying for an abnormally dry May and June.  These are our wettest months, and Milwaukee was well below normal.  If it wasn't for a wet winter, the situation would be much worse.

The drought monitor is collected through 7 am on Tuesday and released on Thursday.  This current monitor didn't have yesterday's rainfall in it.  The maps take a lot to construct.  They use observers and numerical data to create the maps.  Soil moisture, hydrological data, streamflow, and groundwater are also used.  It's a very in depth process.