In one simple phrase, regional extension agent Rudy Yates summed up just what kind of impact the ongoing hot, dry weather has had on local crops.

“Simply. It has affected both quality and quantity,” Yates said Friday. “We’ve seen an impact on cotton, soybeans and peanuts.”

If the effects of a long, hot and dry summer on local crops wasn’t enough to validate what we all know was a long, hot and dry summer, then the U.S. Drought Monitor’s most recent report will be.

According to statistics released this week, 99.8 percent of Alabama is one degree of drought or another and some portions of the state are starting to move into some dangerous areas.

In east Alabama, counties surrounding Lake Martin have reached extreme drought levels, while the rest of that region has now entered the severe drought category.

By comparison, not a single area of Alabama was considered in any drought category this time last year. In the report released this week, more than 30 percent of the state is in severe drought or higher.

“In soybeans and peanuts, we’ve seen some empty spots in the pods and smaller beans,” Yates said. “As far as cotton, we have seen some smaller bowls, and seen some of the fields opening up sooner.”

Yates said the dry weather did affect the yield of the year’s corn crops and will have an impact on the yield on the crops farmers are currently working or harvesting.

Although it may not have a huge impact on current crops, the area should see some rain this weekend.

According to a forecast from the National Weather Service, the Selma area has a 30 percent chance of showers today and tonight with a much better, 70 percent chance of rain on Sunday.

Also, the area should see a break in the above average temperatures next week, when daily highs fall into the low 80s.