Snowstorms slightly ease drought conditions in Plains

• The amount of the USA enduring drought conditions has dropped to 54.17%25
• Two storms dropped the equivalent of 2 to 3 inches of rain from Texas Panhandle to northern Missouri
• More moisture is needed to completely break the drought everywhere%2C AccuWeather says

The winter storms that buried the Plains under heavy snow have slightly helped ease drought conditions in parts of the region, according to Thursday's U.S. Drought Monitor, a federal website that tracks drought across the nation.

"A series of winter storms impacted conditions on the Plains, where areas of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri were recipients of moisture from multiple storms," wrote climatologist Brian Fuchs in the monitor.

Nationally, the amount of the USA enduring drought conditions dropped to 54.17%, the first time that percentage has dropped below 55 since last July.

The combination of the two storms has put down the equivalent of 2 to 3 inches of rain from portions of the Texas Panhandle to northern Missouri, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "Much of this moisture is locked up in the 2 to 4 feet of snow that fell during the storms and will gradually melt in the coming days and weeks."

The monitor reported that in Kansas, the area of "exceptional" drought conditions -- the worst level of drought -- was decreased in the north-central and south-central portions of the state, while "extreme" drought was decreased in the northeast.

In Oklahoma, much of the state saw improvement as the combination of rain and snow from several events improved conditions. The situation was also improving in the panhandle of Texas.

David Cleavinger, a wheat producer near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle, was happy to finally see the 10 inches of snow now covering his fields.

"It won't be enough to produce really good crops, but it'll produce some," Cleavinger said. "But also you'll get spring rains."

Nationally, the amount of the country in "exceptional" drought dropped to 5.45%, the lowest level since last August.

However, more moisture is needed moving forward to completely break the drought everywhere, AccuWeather reports.

"It's welcome relief, and maybe it's going to start trending us in a positive way," Fuchs said of the snow. "But it's not the drought-buster that some would hope."

According to AccuWeather meteorologist Mike Smith, "the weather pattern over the Plains for the next two weeks is also favorable for additional moisture in some locations."

Contributing: Associated Press