By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Severe drought conditions have crept into southwest Ellis County during the past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The remainder of Ellis County is in a moderate drought.
Nearly the western two-thirds of Kansas is in drought, ranging from abnormally dry to exceptional drought.
An updated map of Kansas was released Thursday morning.
According to official records at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town, Hays has received 3.77 inches of precipitation so far this year.
The average amount is 7.81 inches by the end of May.