National Current Conditions
The summer trend continues: Monsoonal rains are helping Arizona and New Mexico, but heat and dryness are causing massive degradations in the Northwest and northern Rockies, especially in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. And, despite improvements in the Southwest, 59.5% of the western U.S. is in extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall improved conditions in parts of the Midwest—except central and northern Minnesota, where severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought expanded. As of July 20, 2021, 40.1% of the U.S. is in drought.
of the U.S. and 46.34% of the lower 48 states are in drought this week.
acres of crops in U.S. are experiencing drought conditions this week.
people in the U.S. and 75.6 Million in the lower 48 states are affected by drought this week.
U.S. states are experiencing Moderate Drought (D1) or worse this week.
U.S. Drought Monitor
The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country, which uses a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4).
The U.S. Drought Monitor is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 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
Classes Drought Has Degraded/Improved Since Last Week
Precipitation Conditions
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
Percent of Normal Precipitation
Percent of Normal Precipitation
Temperature Conditions
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)
Departure from Normal Temperature (°F)
Departure from Normal Temperature (°F)
Drought Indicator Blends
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
Wet Conditions
Palmer Drought Severity Index (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)
Wet Conditions (Relative)
Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
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
Wetness Categories
Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.