Soil Moisture in Missouri
Across 15 monitoring stations in Missouri, 4 are wetter than normal, 9 are about normal, and 2 are drier than normal. Last updated July 18, 2026.
How This Is Measured
Every reading here is measured by an in-ground sensor at USDA SCAN (Soil Climate Analysis Network) and NOAA USCRN (US Climate Reference Network) stations, at or near the 2-inch root-zone depth, not modeled. A raw moisture percentage is not comparable between two soils, so each station is compared against its own history for the date. That comparison, wetter or drier than this station normally is, is the honest signal.
Stations Measuring Soil Moisture in Missouri (15)
| Station | Depth | Moisture | vs. Normal | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter | 2" | 26% | Wetter than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| Elsberry PMC | 2" | 27% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Journagan Ranch | 2" | 22% | Wetter than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| Mt Vernon | 2" | 16% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Powell Gardens | 2" | 49% | Much wetter than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| Schell-Osage | 2" | 31% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Spickard | 2" | 21% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| CMRB LTAR-MO | 2" | 17% | Drier than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| LTSP | 2" | 15% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Chillicothe 22 ENE | 2" | 18% | Drier than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| Joplin 24 N | 2" | 29% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Salem 10 W | 2" | 16% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Carver Farm | 2" | 23% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
| Sinkin Forest | 2" | 19% | Wetter than normal | 2026-07-18 |
| Shaw Nature Reserve | 2" | 29% | Normal for this time of year | 2026-07-18 |
Moisture is the volumetric water content at the sensor. It is not comparable between soils, which is why the “vs. normal” comparison against each station’s own history is the reading to trust. A dash means that station does not yet have enough of its own history for a confident comparison.
Cities in Missouri (25)
Open a city for its nearest station’s current soil moisture and temperature, planting windows, and lawn-care timing.
| City | ZIP |
|---|---|
| Ballwin | 63011 |
| Blue Springs | 64013 |
| Branson | 65615 |
| Cape Girardeau | 63701 |
| Chesterfield | 63005 |
| Columbia | 65201 |
| Fenton | 63026 |
| Florissant | 63031 |
| Hollister | 65672 |
| Independence | 64050 |
| Jefferson City | 65101 |
| Joplin | 64801 |
| Kansas City | 64101 |
| Lees Summit | 64002 |
| Liberty | 64068 |
| O Fallon | 63366 |
| Osceola | 64776 |
| Poplar Bluff | 63901 |
| Rolla | 65401 |
| Saint Charles | 63301 |
| Saint Joseph | 64501 |
| Saint Louis | 63101 |
| Saint Louis | 63101 |
| Sedalia | 65301 |
| Springfield | 65801 |
Soil Moisture FAQ for Missouri
How wet is the soil in Missouri right now?
Across 15 monitoring stations in Missouri, 4 are wetter than normal, 9 are about normal, and 2 are drier than normal. Last updated July 18, 2026. Each station is compared against its own moisture history for the date, so the reading means the same thing everywhere.
Where does Missouri soil moisture data come from?
Every value is measured by an in-ground sensor, not estimated from a weather model. Readings come from the USDA SCAN network and NOAA USCRN stations, at or near the 2-inch root-zone depth (some stations report at the nearest available depth), and are refreshed daily.
What does wetter or drier than normal mean?
For each station, the current reading is compared against that station's own readings around this date across several years, after leaving out frozen-soil days. A raw moisture percentage is not comparable between two different soils, so the comparison against a station's own history is what makes the reading meaningful.
See the national soil moisture map, the full Missouri soil temperature directory (all depths), or the live national soil temperature map.