The latest update on Alabama drought conditions contains good news.

Drought conditions have all but disappeared in the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Alabama’s most recent drought peaked last fall with some areas in what the Drought Monitor called “exceptional” drought, which is the most severe category.

But recent rains have slowly but surely erased that dryness. According to the latest Drought Monitor report, released on Thursday, nearly 84 percent of Alabama is free from drought.

Only 0.09 percent of the state is still in Level 1 (moderate) drought (in extreme northwest Alabama), and only 16.33 percent of the state is categorized as “abnormally dry.”

Contrast that with three months ago, when almost 99 percent of Alabama was in some form of drought (Levels 1-4), 42 percent was in “extreme” drought (Level 3 out of 4) and nearly 5 percent was the worst category, “exceptional” drought (Level 4).

Here’s a look at recent numbers from the Drought Monitor:

Long-range trends point to drought being kept at bay in the state.

According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, Alabama has an increased probability of above-average rainfall through the first part of March.

Here’s the six- to 10-day precipitation outlook, which suggests the majority of the state will have a 40-50 percent probability of above-average rainfall through March 3:

The CPC’s precipitation outlook for all of March suggest parts of south and central Alabama will have increased chances for above-average precipitation, while the northern part of the state has equal chances of above- or below-average rainfall:

The next big chance for rain for Alabama will arrive next Wednesday, and there is a chance some strong storms will be possible as well.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a possibility of severe storms for much of north and central Alabama next Wednesday into Thursday.

The intensity of next week’s weather system, as well as forecast rain amounts, will evolve over the next few days.