Despite some areas of rainfall in North Dakota this past week, drought conditions have worsened in the state. That’s the latest assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor issued Thursday.

“Small scattered areas of heavy rain induced localized improvement, but most areas received little rainfall at best, leading to increasing moisture deficits and thus expansion and intensification of dryness and drought,” stated the Drought Monitor.

The center of the state, including the eastern side of Ward County, the eastern half of McLean County to the south, and all of McHenry, Sheridan, Wells, and most of Pierce County, are declared to be in “exceptional” drought, the highest possible category of intensity used by the Drought Monitor.

Most notable in this week’s drought condition is an expansion of “extreme” drought from 60% of the state to 74%. Extreme drought is the last ratings category before exceptional drought.

According to the Drought Monitor, this past week “some improvement was noted in southwestern North Dakota, but much broader areas of deterioration were observed across eastern North Dakota.”

Temperatures from 90-100 degrees can be expected in the Minot area through the weekend with no rain in the current forecast. There is an increased chance of rain, albeit slight, for early next week.