A worsening drought is spreading across south central Iowa.

The latest national report shows most of Marion County is in severe drought or worse, with those conditions expanding to Pella and most of the northern part of the county. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the latest round of dry conditions was a result of the fourth driest November on record, coupled with several prior months without major rain events.

He says while many negative impacts of the drought have been negated, more conversations are starting to happen around the state in relation to potential water shortages this spring. Glisan says he remains somewhat optimistic about the ongoing El Nino phase, and that many winters have been wetter than normal with those climate drivers ongoing in the Pacific Ocean.

A chance for light rain is in the forecast this evening, according to the National Weather Service, but no major precipitation events are in the forecast for at least the next week across the region.