The month of June was the first time since February the rainfall total at the KMMO Studio in Marshall was less than three inches at 2.63 inches. But this month, the area has been close to bone dry for the most part, which led Governor Mike Parson to issue Executive Order 22-04 calling upon the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams.

Governor Parson has directed all state agencies to examine how they may assist affected communities, as well as those communities that may be affected in the future, through temporary suspension of administrative rules, appropriation or other means of support to mitigate the effects of drought conditions.

Not including the rainfall west-central Missouri is receiving today, there has been measurable precipitation only on three days this month, including four-tenths of an inch on each July 2 and 3. The last measurable rainfall prior to today was 16-hundredths of an inch on July 8.

Reportedly, some locations in the KMMO listening area were so dry prior to this rainfall that farmers were in danger of losing their entire fields of crops.