More regular rain has helped improve drought conditions in Alabama, but many areas are still lagging when it comes to rain in December.

Many spots in the state have had less rain than what’s considered average so far this month, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Dothan has gotten less than an inch of rain at the airport so far this month, and the average at this point in December is 2.86 inches, according to weather service data.

On the flip side, Montgomery has gotten 2.95 inches, just slightly over the average for this point in the month of 2.94 inches.

Below is a look at how much rain some Alabama cities have gotten as of Dec. 18, and the average amount of rain for the same point:

* Birmingham: 2.87 inches so far in December; average is 2.93 inches.

* Dothan: 0.79 inches so far in December; average is 2.86 inches.

* Huntsville: 2.14 inches so far in December, average is 3.70 inches.

* Mobile: 2.59 inches in December; average is 3.11 inches.

* Montgomery: 2.95 inches so far in December; average is 2.94 inches.

* Muscle Shoals: 2.61 inches in December; average is 3.57 inches.

* Troy: 2.77 inches so far in December; average is 3 inches.

* Tuscaloosa: 1.67 inches so far in December; average is 2.97 inches.

Even with many areas running behind for rain, it’s been enough to help push back on drought conditions across the state.

Every category of drought saw some improvement in this week’s report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is shown at the top of this post.

From this week’s report:

* Level 4 out of 4 drought conditions (called exceptional drought), which had been present in 0.01 percent of Alabama for the past few weeks, dropped to zero this week.

* Level 3 (extreme drought) conditions decreased to 0.30 percent of Alabama, from 0.77 percent last week.

* Level 2 (severe) drought dropped from 11.79 percent last week to 10.74 percent this week.

* Level 1 (moderate) drought also decreased from 66.90 percent last week to 35.58 percent this week.

* 93.41 percent of Alabama is in Level 0 drought (also called abnormally dry) but that’s also an improvement from last week, when that number was at 98.61 percent.

* 6.59 percent of Alabama is now out of drought, an increase from 1.39 percent last week.

Looks like Alabama has chances for more rain in the upcoming week.

The seven-day precipitation outlook from NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center shows that most of the state is expected to receive at least a little rain through Dec. 26:

And there are signs more rain may be to come to end the month. The eight- to 14-day precipitation outlook from the Climate Prediction Center suggests Alabama will have slightly increased odds of above-average precipitation through Jan. 1: