Not only is it extremely hot and humid here in southeastern Illinois, it is also extremely dry. That according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The monitor is released weekly by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center and the most recent reports indicates that conditions here in Lawrence County have worsened. The county is rated as Abnormally Dry as compared to No Drought status earlier in the month. And predictions for the future are not much better. The seasonal drought outlook calls for drought conditions to worsen over the next three months. Overall, in Illinois 43% of the state is now listed as Abnormally Dry up from 14% last week. Close to 1% of the state was rated as in Moderate Drought.