National Interagency Fire Center

From the catastrophic wildfires in Southern California to historic low-water levels on the Mississippi River and record-low streamflow in the Northeast, drought and its impacts touched nearly every corner of the country. The year saw the unusual return of two La Niña events and devastating weather whiplash that brought historic floods to drought-stricken Texas. 2025 showed us that drought is

This story was updated on Friday, September 5, 2025. From the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon to smokey skies in the Northeast due to Canadian wildfires, discover how drought and fire are impacting the U.S. this summer.Drought and wildfire interact in numerous ways. Many of the conditions that cause worsening drought can increase wildfire potential. Temperature, soil

Across the U.S., warmer-than-normal temperatures are favored in June through August 2025. The Northwest, Northern Rockies, and Great Plains have greater chances of below-normal precipitation. The Eastern U.S. is favored to see a wetter-than-normal summer.Parts of the Southwest and southern Texas are entering the summer in Extreme and Exceptional Drought (D3-D4). Arizona and its western