Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness Across the Nation
The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, tribal, state, and local levels.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. Drought categories show experts’ assessments of conditions related to dryness and drought including observations of how much water is available in streams, lakes, and soils compared to usual for the same time of year.
The Climate Prediction Center's (CPC's) Seasonal Drought Outlook is issued monthly on the third Thursday of each month. The Outlook predicts whether drought will emerge, stay the same, or get better in the next three months.
| Value | Map Hex Color | |
|---|---|---|
| D0 - Abnormally Dry | #ffff00 | 45.9 |
| D1 - Moderate Drought | #ffcc99 | 32.1 |
| D2 - Severe Drought | #ff6600 | 14.4 |
| D3 - Extreme Drought | #ff0000 | 4.7 |
| D4 - Exceptional Drought | #660000 | 1.3 |
| Value | Map Hex Color | |
|---|---|---|
| Drought persists | #9b634a | 32.1 |
| Drought remains but improves | #ded2bc | 2.2 |
| Drought removal likely | #b2ad69 | 5.3 |
| Drought development likely | #ffde63 | 8.9 |
