This week's Drought Monitor map is out, and it shows the moderate drought conditions confined last week to Southern Maryland and the southern Eastern Shore, have crept north this week.

Arundel and Prince George's counties are now within the zone experiencing moderate drought conditions, as measured by streamflow, rainfall, soil moisture and vegetation damage. So is almost the entire Eastern Shore south of Kent County. The rest of the state is rated "abnormally dry," with the exception of Garrett and extreme western Allegany counties, where conditions are normal.

Overall, the portion of the state experiencing drought conditions has increased this week from 31.2 percent to 47.9 percent - nearly half. Only 8.4 percent enjoys normal moisture, unchanged from last week. 

Here's the national drought map, which shows the continuing severe and extreme conditions in the Southeast.