Kankakee, IL – Despite recent rainfall, drought conditions across parts of northern Illinois and nearby Indiana counties have worsened this week, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday.
The new data shows 20 percent of Kankakee County now classified in moderate drought, a sharp increase from just 3 percent last week. The remaining 80 percent of the county remains abnormally dry.
Conditions are more severe in Iroquois County, where 7 percent of land is experiencing severe drought, and another 70 percent is under moderate drought status. Ford County (86%) and Livingston County (78%) are also seeing widespread severe drought conditions.
Further north, Grundy County is now 88 percent in moderate drought, up roughly 20 percent from last week, while Will County reports 36 percent moderate drought, 56 percent abnormally dry, and 7 percent drought-free.
Across the Indiana state line, Newton (52%), Jasper (37%), and Benton (5%) counties are also listed in moderate drought, with the remainder of those areas considered abnormally dry.
The report, based on data gathered through Tuesday, suggests that while light rainfall has provided temporary relief, deeper soil moisture levels remain well below average for late October.
