MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Lots of folks throughout the Midwest hope that the massive snowstorm will help alleviate the drought conditions which linger from last year.

But here in Wisconsin, a sizable increase in snowfall from a year ago has done little to ease the dry soil conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor said 88-and-two-thirds percent of the Badger State’s land area remained abnormally dry or worse just before this week’s storms. That’s the same percentage of dryness as a week ago – and the figure has changed very little over the last three months.

Experts say the frost needs to come out of the ground, the snow needs to melt slow and steady, and it needs to rain more this spring in order for many places to alleviate their drought conditions.

About 12 east central counties are the only ones in Wisconsin not in a drought. That, too, has changed very little during the winter.