Drought conditions remain severe locally with little change in the past week, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report. Marion and Warren Counties remain in the 2nd of 4 tiers of dryness determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Drought Mitigation Center, and the majority of the region south and east of those counties also is rated as severe. The next best chances for rainfall will be with scattered showers possible Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon, with the National Weather Service expecting between ¼ and ½” for most rain gauges, with higher amounts possible if thunderstorms develop.