The U.S. Drought Monitor says about half of Oklahoma is experiencing drought conditions and that western Oklahoma is experiencing exceptional drought.
The report developed by climatologists, forecasters and others says almost all the western half of the state, including the Oklahoma Panhandle, is abnormally dry or worse. A
lmost 650,000 people live in areas of the state affected by drought conditions. More than 23 percent of the state is in exceptional drought, the driest category.