Extreme drought grips southern, eastern Wyoming

The U.S. Drought Monitor says extreme drought conditions now cover much of southern and eastern Wyoming after a dry August. The program's map shows all of Sweetwater, Laramie, Goshen, Platte and Niobrara counties are in an extreme drought, the fourth-worst out of 5 categories. Conditions in most of Converse and Weston counties and in parts of 6 other counties are also classified as extreme drought. Most of the rest of the state is in a severe drought, the third-worst category. The northwest corner of the state is in the best shape, with abnormally dry conditions, the mildest of the five categories. That covers most of Park and Teton counties, including Yellowstone National Park and the northern Absaroka (ab-SOHR'-kuh) Mountains.