(Radio Iowa) – Updated national maps now show there are two areas of extreme drought in Iowa. The state climatologist says the areas in northwest and east central Iowa have missed out on widespread heavier rains. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, which produces the maps, conditions deteriorated significantly in several large patches in Iowa and Minnesota over the past week. Most of these areas have had up to six inches less than normal rainfall during the past 60 days and up to eight-and-a-half inches short of normal since early May.

All of Butler and Franklin Counties are now classified as in extreme drought, along with adjacent areas in Grundy, Hardin, Floyd, Bremer and Black Hawk Counties. In northwest Iowa, the extreme drought zone includes Dickinson, Emmett, Kossuth and Clay Counties.