18 Percent of Arkansas in Moderate Drought

Drought conditions are returning to Arkansas as hot, dry weather settles into the state.

Data released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 18 percent of the state is now in a moderate drought and more than 75 percent of the state is considered abnormally dry. A week ago, only 13 percent of the state was considered abnormally dry, with the rest of the state reporting no drought conditions at all.

The areas covered in the moderate drought classification include Madison, Newton, Searcy, Johnson, Pope and Van Buren counties in the north. It also includes an area of southwest Arkansas stretching from Sevier County to Calhoun County.

The Mississippi Delta and parts of northeast Arkansas reported no drought conditions.