Showers Help, But Drought Persists In Oklahoma

Numerous showers that pushed across Oklahoma over the past week have helped ease some of the state's dry conditions, but more than a quarter of the state still remains locked in the worst category of drought.

Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor show 26 percent of Oklahoma, including the Panhandle and much of western Oklahoma, remains in the exceptional drought category. That figure was 34 percent last week.

About 55 percent of the state is experiencing at least extreme drought conditions, a decrease from 61 percent last week.

Most of Craig, Nowata, Osage. Pawnee and Washington counties remain under extreme drought conditions, while Rogers and Tulsa counties are suffering from severe drought conditions.

5/15/2014 Related Story: Drought Conditions Cover Most Of NE Oklahoma

The latest projections show drought conditions are expected to intensify or persist across most of western Oklahoma through August.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.