Washington, DC (KICD) — Drought conditions worsened in Western Iowa over the past week.

About the Northern one third of the KICD Broadcast area had been holding on to its “Abnormally Dry status”, but Osceola, O’Brien, Dickinson, Clay, Emmet, and Palo Alto Counties now join Cherokee county in the D-1 “Moderate Drought” category.

All of Pocahontas, nearly all of Buena Vista, and a portion of Southern Palo Alto County are now in “Severe Drought” according to satellite maps and actual “on-the-ground” observations.

72.99 percent of Iowa is now listed in “Severe Drought” up from 54.71 percent one week ago. Over a quarter of the state – mainly Eastern Iowa – is in “Extreme Drought.”