Southeast drought

It was amazing the smoke in Ky and Tn when we were traveling. I noticed wet areas on our project which are bone dry. It appears that it has been weeks since a rain. The smoke in some places made it difficult to breathe. I am back in Illinois and have never seen a November 15 which was frost free. The latest I have cut grass in past years has been October 15, yet after work today I almost cut grass. Our weather cycles are really extreme. I like a mild and warm early winter because it allows the excess water in the upper midwest to drain off before the winter freeze piles it up for spring floods. This could be the third consecutive year without a major flood for us......something which would be no big deal looking at the historic water gages, but the last 15 years have been off the wall strange with flooding.