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Drought Worsens Across Midwest as Mississippi River Dwindles

  • Dry conditions expand along critical US river arteries
  • There are few signs of relief for barge transportation snafus
A river barge passes the St. Louis Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri.
A river barge passes the St. Louis Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri.Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
Updated on

A drought is spreading across the US Midwest, drying up the Mississippi River and its tributaries that serve as a critical freight artery for the country.

From Iowa to Ohio, nearly a third of the region is in drought, up from a quarter a week earlier, according to Thursday’s update from the US Drought Monitor. Parched conditions have also jumped in states bordering the Mississippi, like Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.