Drought concerns are starting to return to the area. The latest map just released Thursday by the US Drought Monitor now puts 82 percent of Iroquois County in the “abnormally dry” category. Just last week there was no drought concerns whatsoever. Additionally, 85 percent of Ford County and 15 percent of Livingston County is considered “abnormally dry” All of Kankakee and Will Counties continue to be without any drought concerns at all.
Across the state line, the US Drought Monitor says all of Benton County, the southern two-thirds of Newton County and the southern 47 percent of Jasper County are now considered to be abnormally dry. The latest map includes data gathered by the US Drought Monitor through Tuesday of this week.