Drought Conditions Returning To Oklahoma

The U.S. Drought Monitor says drought-stricken areas are spreading across Oklahoma due to lack of rainfall.

The monitor says more than 19 percent of the state is in moderate drought, including the Tulsa metropolitan area and parts of northeastern and southern Oklahoma.

In addition, more than 3 percent of the state is in severe drought, particularly some eastern and south central Oklahoma counties.

Another 42 percent of the state is categorized as particularly dry, including much of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The drought monitor says the number of Oklahomans affected by drought is almost 1.2 million, more than double the number at this time last month.

Rainfall totals varied widely across the state during the past month, with the far western Panhandle receiving just 58 percent of normal precipitation.