Honestly at first glance I almost thought you posted the same map as your last update. They are nearly identical I really had to study it to tell that they were different. I thought maybe you accidentally posted the wrong one and maybe...just maybe it wasn't that ridiculous.
Soil moisture/well recharge will likely drive drought severity over a measured time. When it rains on rock hard dirt, sh1t just goes to the lake/river.
Want to end drought, long soaking rain that increases soil moisture and rejuvenate wells.