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Crop Moisture Index (CMI)

Associated Agencies

National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC)

The CMI gives the short-term or current status of purely agricultural drought or moisture surplus and can change rapidly from week to week. The CMI indicate general conditions and not local variations caused by isolated rain. Calculation of the CMI are made for 350 climatic divisions in the United States and Puerto Rico. Input to the calculations include the weekly precipitation total and average temperature, division constants (water capacity of the soil, etc.) and previous history of the indices. The CMI can be used to measure the status of dryness or wetness affecting warm season crops and field activities.

Interactive Map: Crop Moisture Index
Map

Crop Moisture Index
Value Map Hex Color Description
Severely Dry #ffa800 Severely Dry (-3.0 or less) The Crop Moisture Index is between -3.0 or less, indicating severely dry conditions.
Excessively Dry #ffd27e Excessively Dry (-2.0 to -2.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -2.0 to -2.9, indicating excessively dry conditions.
Abnormally Dry #ffffbd Abnormally Dry (-1.0 to -1.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -1.0 to -1.9, indicating abnormally dry conditions.
Slightly Dry / Favorably Moist #fff Slightly Dry / Favorably Moist (-0.9 to +0.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between -0.9 to 0.9, indicating slightly dry to favorably moist conditions.
Value Map Hex Color Description
Abnormally Moist #e9ffbb Abnormally Moist (1.0 to 1.9) The Crop Moisture Index is between 1.0 to 1.9, indicating abnormally moist conditions.
Wet #a9ff00 Wet (2.0 to 3.0) The Crop Moisture Index is between 2.0 to 3.0, indicating wet conditions.
Excessively Wet #076900 Excessively Wet (3.0 and above) The Crop Moisture Index is 3.0 or greater, indicating excessively wet conditions.
Missing / Incomplete #000 Missing / Incomplete This climate division has missing or incomplete data.

How to

What can I do with these data?

  • Check weekly measurement of short-term needs vs. available water (dry to wet)

How do I use the site?

  • Data Tables: Select a Region to view weekly data. Archived data are located under the “Archives” section.
  • Crop Moisture Index Map: depiects short-term (up to 4 weeks) abnormal dryness or wetness affecting agriculture.

Access

Data Tables: home page for the Palmer Drought Severity and Crop Moisture Indices.

Crop Moisture Index map: depicts short-term (up to 4 weeks) abnormal dryness or wetness affecting agriculture. Map updates weekly.