Joplin has been the bull's eye for the drought in Missouri, where 11 of the past 12 months have received below normal rainfall. The precipitation deficit is now approaching 20 inches, or less than 60 percent of normal.
Overall, most locations averaged 13 to 16 degrees above normal for the month. That's just amazing.
Quick recovery from the drought is not likely. Even normal rainfall in May and June can't restore ground water levels.
The mother of all droughts in southwest Missouri occurred from 1952 to 1956 when precipitation in Joplin fell more than 81 inches below normal in a five-year period. Fortunately, we're no where near that right now.