The drought that started this summer persists in the State of Iowa. New maps released by the National Climatic Data Center show drought covering the state with intensity varying from exceptional, the worst drought classification, at the northwest Iowa border to areas of moderate drought in the northeast corner of the state.

Southeast Iowa is still in a severe drought, with western Keokuk and Iowa Counties seeing extreme drought.

The National Weather Service predicts the drought will either get worse or at least continue through the month of January.