Where's the rain? Here's where a dry and dangerous fall is in the forecast.

Drought continues to worsen in several parts of the country, meteorologists warned in early September as dry conditions are forecast for many areas later in the month, sparking additional fears about wildfires in the fire-prone West.

"The top story is the drought in the Western U.S. has gotten considerably worse from late June to early September," James Aman, senior meteorologist at environmental firm AEM, told USA TODAY.

How much worse? In June, 51% of the West was in a drought. Now it's ballooned to 64%, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. Additionally, 100% of the giant Colorado River basin is now in a drought.

Specifically, the U.S. Drought Monitor now shows much deeper levels of drought in Washington State, northern Oregon, Idaho, and the western end of Montana.

In Washington, the state has been forced to issue a drought declaration for an unprecedented third year in a row due to the ongoing dryness, according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.