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Drought conditions causing low levels in the Colorado River. Photo credit: GoodFocused, Shutterstock.
NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System has announced approximately $2 million in funding for projects to support tribal drought resilience across the Western U.S.

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.

Current Conditions and Outlooks

U.S. Drought Monitor Category
Value Map Hex Color % of U.S. Description
D0 - Abnormally Dry #ffff00 15.1 Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought. 
D1 - Moderate Drought #fcd37f 12.1 Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
D2 - Severe Drought #ffaa00 10.2 Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
D3 - Extreme Drought #e60000 6.9 Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
D4 - Exceptional Drought #730000 2.5 Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Total Area in Drought (D1–D4) dmtotal 31.7 Total Area in Drought (D1–D4) Percent area of the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico that is currently in drought (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought Outlook Category
Value Map Hex Color % of U.S.
Drought persists #9b634a 11.2
Drought remains but improves #ded2bc 12.8
Drought removal likely #b2ad69 7.7
Drought development likely #ffde63 0.7

News
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News & Events
NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) has announced approximately $2 million in funding for projects to support tribal drought resilience as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This investment will help tribal nations address current and future drought risk on tribal lands across the Western U.S. while informing decision-making and strengthening tribal
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News & Events
We’re just days away from turning the page from summer to fall. Drought in the United States expanded and intensified in Summer 2023, largely influenced by not only lack of precipitation, but extreme heat and evaporative demand. While the number and size of wildfires were relatively small in the western U.S. compared to recent summers, unhealthy levels of smoke still poured into the contiguous
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News & Events
As with many other climate-related disasters, drought can lead to negative health outcomes. The significant impacts that drought can have on respiratory illness, such as bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma, are of particular concern. Drier conditions can increase dust, smoke, and other particulate matter, contributing to reduced air quality that exacerbates these