There's good news on the weather front for drought-stricken areas across the state.

The National Weather Service is expecting greater-than-normal amounts of rain beginning in January 2009.

Kevin Kodama, senior hydrologist with the weather service, said this morning that more than three-fourths of the state have experienced drought conditions this year.

Among the worst hit areas were portions of the Big Island, where drought conditions were termed "extreme" and resulted in livestock deaths, Kodama said.

There were no specific forecasts on how soon the rain may come or much rain the state will get, but Hawai'i's rainy season traditionally occurs from September through April.