North Dakota drought conditions continue to improve

(Bismarck, ND)  --  December begins with most of the state out of the clutches of months-long drought.  

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows about three-quarters of the state without any dry or drought conditions.  

Just under 20-percent of the counties are reporting abnormally dry conditions with nine-percent in moderate drought.  

Parts of five counties in northeast North Dakota or about seven-percent of the state is in severe drought.