Read more drought-related stories:
• Amid drought, state turns off tap on 1,100 irrigators
• So, just how bad is this year's drought?
• Nancy's Almanac, July 20, 2012: Any end in sight to drought?
• Drought spreads, intensifies
• Drought may devastate livestock producers
• Hot, dry weather stresses Iowa crops
• The only things growing well in the Midlands are utility bills
• How to help your lawn, plants weather drought
• Roadside haying start date bumped up in Nebraska
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Of course, drought occurs when it's hot and dry, but this drought has been marked by extreme heat.
During the seven-day period, from 7 a.m. July 17 to 7 a.m.Tuesday, July 24, Nebraska and Iowa set or matched 169 records for daytime highs and warmest overnight lows. The previous week, the two states set or matched a total of 24 records.
Those record-setting temperatures over the past week have contributed to the rapid intensification of drought.
