The heavy rains that soaked the ground in Selma Wednesday night did little more.

According to National Weather Service Science and Operations officer Kevin Pence, it would take several days of rain to make up for the recent dry conditions.

“The recent rainfalls have been more beneficial to the northern half of the state,” he said. “The southern part just hasn’t been getting as much rain. No one storm is ever going to clear up a drought situation.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor listed 100 percent of the state as at least abnormally dry, 96.7 percent under a moderate drought, 43.7 under severe drought conditions and 12 percent as extreme.

One year ago the monitor reported 100 percent as abnormally dry, but with no other severe conditions listed.

Dallas County is listed under moderate drought conditions and Lowndes as a mixture between moderate and severe.

Portions of Wilcox County are listed under extreme drought conditions. Increasingly stormy weather is anticipated across Alabama throughout the fall, which could bring some relief.

The heavy rains seen Wednesday will not stick around for the rest of the week, Pence said.

“The storms should push through by about noon Thursday,” he said.

The Climate Prediction Center forecast calls for near- to above-normal precipitation across Alabama through Oct. 30, with drier-than-normal conditions confined to eastern Alaska and from eastern portions of Oklahoma and Texas into the Delta.