Rains at the end of September helped ease drought conditions across northern Indiana according to the newest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday.

Areas of Kosciusko, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton Counties that were under a moderate drought are no longer considered in drought or abnormally dry conditions. The rains also helped erase dry conditions in several counties in the western areas of the state.

While the drought conditions eased in northern Indiana, they have worsened in southern Indiana, where several counties along the Ohio River valley are now in a severe drought. Moderate drought conditions persist all across the southern part of the Hoosier state, and stretch up the eastern state line to areas around Richmond.

Abnormally dry conditions are reported across 60 percent of the state, down three percent from last week and down 17 percent from two weeks ago.