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Release Notes

(Last Modified December 30th, 2008)
New Layout
  • Navigation
    The site navigation has changed. The links previously found on the left hand side of the page under the banner (Contact Us | Log In | Text-Only) are now located in the upper right corner of the page. The main site navigation menu previously found in the top left corner of the content area under 'Navigate drought.gov' is now found at the top of the page under the banner. Clicking these buttons will take you to the theme area's home page.

    You'll also notice that you can navigate some of our partners sites (i.e. Drought Monitor and Drought Impact Reporter) through the portal. So, if you click 'Launch Site' (or similar link), you can then navigate that site in the main content area of the portal.


New Features & Tools
  • Drought Information Statements Portlet
    In the right column of the home page, there is now a 'Drought Information Statements' portlet. This portlet is an interactive Map interface to the National Weather Services' active drought information statements. Click on a hightlighted area to view the drought information statement for that County Warning Area. Use the navigation controls to pan around, zoom in/out, or click and drag with the mouse - also supports zoom in/out with mouse wheel. (Alternatively, you can select from a text list).
  • Area Information - updated
    Area information is your quick-link to drought conditions in your area or area of interest. Select the desired State or Region to view the current conditions, a time-series of the past year, links to State drought information sites and where available, Local drought statements from the National Weather Service.
  • Maps & Tools
    Maps & Tools is currently under developement. The NIDIS team and its partners are working to offer more integrated and enhanced tools to view and analyze drought conditions, impacts and forecasts.
    • Map Viewer
      The NIDIS Drought Portal has a new Map Viewer! The new Map Viewer has enhanced features and additional data layers. See the Help (?) page from the Map Viewer Portlet for more information.
  • Drought in the News
    • RSS Feed
      The NIDIS Drought News is now available as a live RSS   Feed.
    • Archive
      The NIDIS Drought News is currently being archived as the front page stories are rotated. The Archive is now available. Future enhancements will be made to allow searching from the archive portlet.