The new U.S. Drought Monitor map, released this morning, shows counties in the Evansville area with the driest conditions and wide swath of the state from around Lafayette to north of Fort Wayne in severe drought.

More than 40 of Indiana’s 92 counties – including Kosciusko County – have implemented open burning bans, with local officials worried about fires spreading quickly from tinder-dry grass and vegetation.

Much of the state has gone weeks without significant rain. The National Weather Service has recorded rainfall of less than one-tenth of an inch for June in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne through Wednesday.