Drought conditions improve

Although Marion County’s northwestern half continues to face moderate drought, the southeast half has improved to being merely abnormally dry, according to the National Weather Service.

Its monthly climatology report, released last week, listed soil moisture in the county at near normal to slightly below normal.

Stream flow was reported to be near normal in the county but much below normal just north and west of the county.

Temperatures and precipitation are borderline likely to be higher than normal in March, the weather service said.

Normal temperatures and a slight chance of more than normal precipitation are forecast through May. An end to drought conditions in the county is forecast by June.