Spencer, IA: (Aug 15, 2012) - Despite recent rainfall, this year’s drought is still worse in most of the Corn Belt than it was in 1988, the country’s last major drought year.
 
EarthSat Weather says the drought has been most severe across the central and southern plains. Cumulative rainfall in St. Louis from June to mid-August, for example, was 3.8 inches, compared to 5.2 inches during the same period in 1988. In addition, during the same time span, St. Louis had 21 days with triple-digit high temperatures, compared to just eight such days in that period in 1988.
 
EarthSat Weather says only northern Midwest areas like Minnesota have conditions less extreme than 1988.