The latest drought monitor released Thursday shows Moderate Drought has spread across more of southern Maine and now covers 20 percent of the state, versus 12 percent last week. (U.S. Drought Monitor as of Thursday, August 6)Abnormally dry conditions have also spread in the last week to now includes a significant portion of northeast Maine. (U.S. Drought Monitor as of Thursday, July 30)The state had made an early summer drought recovery before July, which turned out to be the 2nd-driest July on record. Drought conditions are still far better than last summer when a large portion of the state was under extreme drought. Maine residents in areas of drought, according to the Drought Monitor, have increased by 67 percent since last week.