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National Current Conditions

March 31, 2021 - April 6, 2021

A warm and dry week in the West and Plains led to more degradations. Areas of Extreme Drought (D3) expanded in the Northern Plains, and Exceptional Drought (D4) developed in Oregon for the first time since 2015. Conditions in California are also troublesome. The state has had back-to-back dry years, the wet season is over, and this water year is tied as the third driest on record. As of April 6, 2021, 37.6% of the U.S. and 45% of the lower 48 states are in drought.

37.64%

of the U.S. and 45.05% of the lower 48 states are in drought this week.

up
2.6%
since last week
down
3.4%
since last month
76.8 Million

acres of crops in U.S. are experiencing drought conditions this week.

down
27.5%
since last week
down
27.5%
since last month
89.5 Million

people in the U.S. and 89.3 Million in the lower 48 states are affected by drought this week.

up
5.1%
since last week
up
23.4%
since last month
28

U.S. states are experiencing Moderate Drought (D1) or worse this week.

down
2 states
since last week
same
No change
since last month

U.S. Drought Monitor

Current Drought Change in Drought

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4).

The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4).

The USDM Change Map shows where drought has improved, remained the same, or worsened since the previous week's Drought Monitor. Learn more.

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

The color with the hex code #ffff00 identifies:
D0 - Abnormally Dry
The color with the hex code #ffcc99 identifies:
D1 - Moderate Drought
The color with the hex code #ff6600 identifies:
D2 - Severe Drought
The color with the hex code #ff0000 identifies:
D3 - Extreme Drought
The color with the hex code #660000 identifies:
D4 - Exceptional Drought

Classes Drought Has Degraded/Improved Since Last Week

The color with the hex code #543005 identifies:
-5
The color with the hex code #a87000 identifies:
-4
The color with the hex code #ff9900 identifies:
-3
The color with the hex code #ffd438 identifies:
-2
The color with the hex code #ffff73 identifies:
-1
The color with the hex code #cccccc identifies:
0

The color with the hex code #cdffd4 identifies:
+1
The color with the hex code #8ad48c identifies:
+2
The color with the hex code #359766 identifies:
+3
The color with the hex code #016678 identifies:
+4
The color with the hex code #003d75 identifies:
+5
Source(s):

NDMC, NOAA, USDA
Source(s):

NDMC, NOAA, USDA
Last Updated  -  04/06/21
Last Updated  -  04/08/21

Precipitation Conditions

7-Day Total 30-Day % of Normal 60-Day % of Normal

The current precipitation conditions show the precipitation accumulation for the last 7 days using the gridMET and NLDAS precipitation datasets. The last 30- and 60-day percentages of normal precipitation are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980.

Precipitation data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

The current precipitation conditions show the precipitation accumulation for the last 7 days using the gridMET and NLDAS precipitation datasets. The last 30- and 60-day percentages of normal precipitation are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980.

Precipitation data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

The current precipitation conditions show the precipitation accumulation for the last 7 days using the gridMET and NLDAS precipitation datasets. The last 30- and 60-day percentages of normal precipitation are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980. 

Precipitation data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

Inches of Precipitation

The color with the hex code #ffffff identifies:
≤ 0.01
The color with the hex code #ffffcc identifies:
0.01 - 0.5
The color with the hex code #c7e9b4 identifies:
0.5 - 1
The color with the hex code #7fcdbb identifies:
1 - 2

The color with the hex code #41b6c4 identifies:
2 - 4
The color with the hex code #1d91c0 identifies:
4 - 6
The color with the hex code #225ea8 identifies:
6 - 8
The color with the hex code #0c2c84 identifies:
≥ 8

Percent of Normal Precipitation

The color with the hex code #8c510a identifies:
0 - 25
The color with the hex code #bf812d identifies:
25 - 50
The color with the hex code #dfc27d identifies:
50 - 75
The color with the hex code #f6e8c3 identifies:
75 - 100

The color with the hex code #c7eae5 identifies:
100 - 150
The color with the hex code #80cdc1 identifies:
150 - 200
The color with the hex code #35978f identifies:
200 - 300
The color with the hex code #01665e identifies:
≥ 300

Percent of Normal Precipitation

The color with the hex code #8c510a identifies:
0 - 25
The color with the hex code #bf812d identifies:
25 - 50
The color with the hex code #dfc27d identifies:
50 - 75
The color with the hex code #f6e8c3 identifies:
75 - 100

The color with the hex code #c7eae5 identifies:
100 - 150
The color with the hex code #80cdc1 identifies:
150 - 200
The color with the hex code #35978f identifies:
200 - 300
The color with the hex code #01665e identifies:
≥ 300
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Last Updated  -  04/09/21
Last Updated  -  04/09/21
Last Updated  -  04/09/21

Temperature Conditions

7-Day Mean 7-Day Departure from Normal 30-Day Departure

The current temperature conditions show the average maximum daily temperature for the last 7 days using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.

The last 30- and 60-day departures from normal temperature are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980. 

Temperature data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

The current temperature conditions show the average maximum daily temperature for the last 7 days using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.

The last 30- and 60-day departures from normal temperature are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980. 

Temperature data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

The current temperature conditions show the average maximum daily temperature for the last 7 days using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.

The last 30- and 60-day departures from normal temperature are also available, which show the difference of the last 30 or 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged since 1980.

Temperature data is updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. Learn more.

Mean Temperature (°F)

The color with the hex code #05346c identifies:
≤ 0
The color with the hex code #216cac identifies:
0 - 10
The color with the hex code #4393c3 identifies:
10 - 20
The color with the hex code #92c5de identifies:
20 - 30
The color with the hex code #d1e5f0 identifies:
30 - 40
The color with the hex code #ffffff identifies:
40 - 60

The color with the hex code #fddbc7 identifies:
60 - 70
The color with the hex code #f4a582 identifies:
70 - 80
The color with the hex code #d6604d identifies:
80 - 90
The color with the hex code #b2182b identifies:
90 - 100
The color with the hex code #69012c identifies:
≥ 100

Departure from Normal Temperature (°F)

The color with the hex code #0404ff identifies:
≤ -8
The color with the hex code #2166ac identifies:
-6
The color with the hex code #4393c3 identifies:
-4
The color with the hex code #92c5de identifies:
-3
The color with the hex code #d1e5f0 identifies:
-1
The color with the hex code #ffffff identifies:
0

The color with the hex code #fddbc7 identifies:
1
The color with the hex code #f4a582 identifies:
3
The color with the hex code #d6604d identifies:
4
The color with the hex code #b2182b identifies:
6
The color with the hex code #800000 identifies:
≥ 8

Departure from Normal Temperature (°F)

The color with the hex code #0404ff identifies:
≤ -8
The color with the hex code #2166ac identifies:
-6
The color with the hex code #4393c3 identifies:
-4
The color with the hex code #92c5de identifies:
-3
The color with the hex code #d1e5f0 identifies:
-1
The color with the hex code #ffffff identifies:
0

The color with the hex code #fddbc7 identifies:
1
The color with the hex code #f4a582 identifies:
3
The color with the hex code #d6604d identifies:
4
The color with the hex code #b2182b identifies:
6
The color with the hex code #800000 identifies:
≥ 8
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Last Updated  -  04/09/21
Last Updated  -  04/08/21
Last Updated  -  04/10/21

Drought Indicator Blends

Short Term Long Term

These experimental drought blends integrate several key drought monitoring products and indices into a single short-term or long-term product, based on the methodology developed at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. The blends are created using the Climate Engine tool, and apply the CPC weighting ratios to the high-resolution gridMET gridded research dataset. The short-term blend combines PDSI, Z-Index, 1-month SPI, and 3-month SPI to estimate the overall short-term drought. This product is an example of current NIDIS-funded research. 

The data is updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.

These experimental drought blends integrate several key drought monitoring products and indices into a single short-term or long-term product, based on the methodology developed at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. The blends are created using the Climate Engine tool, and apply the CPC weighting ratios to the high-resolution gridMET gridded research dataset. The long-term blend combines PDSI, Z-Index, and 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year SPI to estimate the overall long-term drought. This product is an example of current NIDIS-funded research. 

The data is updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.

Dry Conditions

The color with the hex code #6a110a identifies:
0-2 (D4)
The color with the hex code #d52c1f identifies:
2-5 (D3)
The color with the hex code #f4ac3d identifies:
5-10 (D2)
The color with the hex code #f7d38b identifies:
10-20 (D1)
The color with the hex code #fffd54 identifies:
20-30 (D0)

Wet Conditions

The color with the hex code #befb70 identifies:
70-80 (W0)
The color with the hex code #71fbfd identifies:
80-90 (W1)
The color with the hex code #43a9f8 identifies:
90-95 (W2)
The color with the hex code #0022f5 identifies:
95-98 (W3)
The color with the hex code #0013a3 identifies:
98-100 (W4)
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Last Updated  -  04/05/21
Last Updated  -  04/05/21
Experimental Experimental

Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)

Current PDSI

This new experimental implementation of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) uses the high-resolution gridMET gridded research dataset and USDA STATSGO soils data. The PDSI is a standardized index based on a simplified soil water balance and estimates relative soil moisture conditions. The magnitude of PDSI indicates the severity of the departure from normal conditions. A PDSI value >4 represents very wet conditions, while a PDSI <-4 represents an extreme drought. This PDSI uses a new methodology for sub-monthly PDSI. 

PDSI data is updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days. Learn more.

Dry Conditions (Relative)

The color with the hex code #730000 identifies:
< -5
The color with the hex code #e60000 identifies:
-4 to -5
The color with the hex code #ffaa00 identifies:
-3 to -4
The color with the hex code #fcd37f identifies:
-2 to -3
The color with the hex code #ffff00 identifies:
-1 to -2

Wet Conditions (Relative)

The color with the hex code #aaff55 identifies:
1 to 2
The color with the hex code #01ffff identifies:
2 to 3
The color with the hex code #00aaff identifies:
3 to 4
The color with the hex code #00f identifies:
4 to 5
The color with the hex code #00a identifies:
> 5
Source(s):

UC Merced, Climate Engine
Last Updated  -  04/05/21
Experimental

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)

1 Week 1 Month

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental drought monitoring tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts and sustained droughts. It examines how anomalous the atmospheric evaporative demand (E0; also known as "the thirst of the atmosphere") is for a given location and across a time period of interest. EDDI can offer early warning of agricultural drought, hydrologic drought, and fire-weather risk.

EDDI data is updated daily. Learn more.

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental drought monitoring tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts and sustained droughts. It examines how anomalous the atmospheric evaporative demand (E0; also known as "the thirst of the atmosphere") is for a given location and across a time period of interest. EDDI can offer early warning of agricultural drought, hydrologic drought, and fire-weather risk.

EDDI data is updated daily. Learn more.

Drought Categories

The color with the hex code #730000 identifies:
ED4
The color with the hex code #e60000 identifies:
ED3
The color with the hex code #ffaa00 identifies:
ED2
The color with the hex code #ffd37f identifies:
ED1
The color with the hex code #ffff00 identifies:
ED0

Wetness Categories

The color with the hex code #8ccdef identifies:
EW0
The color with the hex code #00bfff identifies:
EW1
The color with the hex code #1d90ff identifies:
EW2
The color with the hex code #4169e1 identifies:
EW3
The color with the hex code #0000ff identifies:
EW4
Source(s):

NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory
Source(s):

NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory
Last Updated  -  04/12/21
Last Updated  -  04/12/21
Experimental Experimental
Learn more about these data
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