Entire state of Wis. classified 'abnormally dry'
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A report from the U.S. Drought Monitor classifies the entire state of Wisconsin as "abnormally dry."
Moderate to extreme drought conditions continue across the southern three-quarters of Wisconsin. Extreme drought -- the second most severe category -- continues across the southern counties that border Illinois from Walworth County to the Iowa border.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/TOKDZL) reports the numbers are as of Tuesday and were released on Thursday.
Meanwhile, an updated crop conditions report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that soil moisture is 71 percent short to very short on average across Wisconsin.
The state Department of Natural Resources says three counties in northwest Wisconsin -- Polk, Burnett and Washburn -- are considered to be at a high risk on the agency's fire danger scale.
AP-WF-09-14-12 0232GMT
