National Current Conditions
It was a cold, dry week for most of the United States, with only minor changes in drought conditions. Rain brought some improvements to the western Gulf Coast (Texas and Louisiana), while parts of the lower Midwest and Southeast saw degradations. In the Plains, cold weather combined with soil moisture shortages increased drought stress on vegetation. As of November 22, 2022, 49.59% of the U.S. and 59.3% of the lower 48 states are in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
of the U.S. and 59.30% 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 136.0 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.
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| D0 - Abnormally Dry | #ffff00 |
| D1 - Moderate Drought | #ffcc99 |
| D2 - Severe Drought | #ff6600 |
| D3 - Extreme Drought | #ff0000 |
| D4 - Exceptional Drought | #660000 |
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| -3 | #ff9900 |
| -2 | #ffd438 |
| -1 | #ffff73 |
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0 | #cccccc |
| +1 | #cdffd4 |
| +2 | #8ad48c |
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 from 1991–2020.
Precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
The 30 day percent of normal precipitation shows the difference of the last 30 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 1991-2020 using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.
Precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
The 60 day percent of normal precipitation shows the difference of the last 60 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 1991-2020 using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.
Precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0 - 0.01 | #ffffff |
| 0.01 - 0.5 | #ffffcc |
| 0.5 - 1 | #c7e9b4 |
| 1 - 2 | #7fcdbb |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 2 - 4 | #41b6c4 |
| 4 - 6 | #1d91c0 |
| 6 - 8 | #225ea8 |
| 8 - | #0c2c84 |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0% - 25% | #8c510a |
| 25% - 50% | #bf812d |
| 50% - 75% | #dfc27d |
| 75% - 100% | #f6e8c3 |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 100% - 150% | #c7eae5 |
| 150% - 200% | #80cdc1 |
| 200% - 300% | #35978f |
| 300% - | #01665e |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0% - 25% | #8c510a |
| 25% - 50% | #bf812d |
| 50% - 75% | #dfc27d |
| 75% - 100% | #f6e8c3 |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 100% - 150% | #c7eae5 |
| 150% - 200% | #80cdc1 |
| 200% - 300% | #35978f |
| 300% - | #01665e |
Temperature Conditions
The average maximum daily temperature (°F) for the last 7 days is shown using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.
The last 7-day and 30-day departures from normal temperature are also available, which show the difference of the last 7 or 30 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 1991–2020.
Temperature data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
The 7-day departure from normal maximum temperature (°F) shows the difference of the last 7 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 1991–2020 using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.
Temperature data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
The 30-day departure from the normal maximum temperature (°F) shows the difference of the last 30 days from the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 1991–2020 using the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets.
Temperature data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control. Learn more.
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| - 0 | #05346c |
| 0 - 10 | #216cac |
| 10 - 20 | #4393c3 |
| 20 - 30 | #92c5de |
| 30 - 40 | #d1e5f0 |
| 40 - 60 | #ffffff |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 60 - 70 | #fddbc7 |
| 70 - 80 | #f4a582 |
| 80 - 90 | #d6604d |
| 90 - 100 | #b2182b |
| 100 - | #69012c |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| - -8 | #0404ff |
| -8 - -6 | #2166ac |
| -6 - -4 | #4393c3 |
| -4 - -3 | #92c5de |
| -3 - -1 | #d1e5f0 |
| -1 - 0 | #ffffff |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0 - 1 | #ffffff |
| 1 - 3 | #fddbc7 |
| 3 - 4 | #f4a582 |
| 4 - 6 | #d6604d |
| 6 - 8 | #b2182b |
| 8 - | #800000 |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| - -8 | #0404ff |
| -8 - -6 | #2166ac |
| -6 - -4 | #4393c3 |
| -4 - -3 | #92c5de |
| -3 - -1 | #d1e5f0 |
| -1 - 0 | #ffffff |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0 - 1 | #ffffff |
| 1 - 3 | #fddbc7 |
| 3 - 4 | #f4a582 |
| 4 - 6 | #d6604d |
| 6 - 8 | #b2182b |
| 8 - | #800000 |
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.
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 0-2 (D4) | #6a110a |
| 2-5 (D3) | #d52c1f |
| 5-10 (D2) | #f4ac3d |
| 10-20 (D1) | #f7d38b |
| 20-30 (D0) | #fffd54 |
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 70-80 (W0) | #befb70 |
| 80-90 (W1) | #71fbfd |
| 90-95 (W2) | #43a9f8 |
| 95-98 (W3) | #0022f5 |
| 98-100 (W4) | #0013a3 |
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 are updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days. Learn more.
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| - -5 | #730000 |
| -5 - -4 | #e60000 |
| -4 - -3 | #ffaa00 |
| -3 - -2 | #fcd37f |
| -2 - -1 | #ffff00 |
| Range | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| 1 - 2 | #aaff55 |
| 2 - 3 | #01ffff |
| 3 - 4 | #00aaff |
| 4 - 5 | #00f |
| 5 - | #00a |
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.
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| ED4 | #730000 |
| ED3 | #e60000 |
| ED2 | #ffaa00 |
| ED1 | #ffd37f |
| ED0 | #ffff00 |
| Value | Map Hex Color |
|---|---|
| EW0 | #8ccdef |
| EW1 | #00bfff |
| EW2 | #1d90ff |
| EW3 | #4169e1 |
| EW4 | #0000ff |
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.