Drought.gov | Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation

Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation

How is Drought Affecting your Neighborhood?

Where is drought this week?

March 13-19, 2019

4.6%

of the US land area.

4.1 million

people are experiencing drought.

Extreme (D3) and Exceptional (D4) drought are affecting areas of northwestern New Mexico.
Severe (D2) drought is present in southeast Alaska, Hawaii, southern Texas, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, and New Mexico.

Featured Resources:

Drought Status Updates
Two-page status updates on drought conditions, including current conditions, impacts, and outlook:

- Southwest Drought Status and El Niño Update – February 14, 2019
- El Niño & the Southwest Drought Status Update – December 6, 2018
- California-Nevada Drought Outlook - November 2018
- Southern Plains Drought Update – October 26, 2018
- El Niño & the Southwest Drought Status Update – October 26, 2018
- Midwest & Missouri River Basin Drought Status Update - October 11, 2018

News & Updates

Thumbnail of a map showing the number of weeks a location had in drought in 2018.

Year in Review: A Look Back at Drought across the United States in 2018

Using data from the 52 weekly U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) maps published during 2018, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) generated annual maps to provide a snapshot...

Thumbnail sample of a forecast map for the Western United States

Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo Winners Announced

Kicked off in March 2017, the Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo comprised of a year-long, real-time forecasting competition. The Bureau of Reclamation sponsored the competition in partnership with National Oceanic and...

Thumbnail of the Advancing Sustainability of the U.S. Mexico Transboundary Drylands Workshop Report

NIDIS Illustrates Transboundary Drought Early Warning Systems in Advancing Sustainability of U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Drylands: Proceedings of a Workshop (2018)

Elizabeth Weight, NIDIS Drought Information Systems Regional Coordinator, represented NIDIS in the May 2018 workshop “Advancing Sustainability of U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Drylands”. The workshop was organized by the National Academies of...

Featured Drought Data, Maps & Tools

Drought Impacts Report

The National Drought Mitigation Center developed this database of drought impacts, which can be searched by location, type of impact, time period and more.

Wildfire Risks

The National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho, produces these maps monthly.

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts (developing over a few weeks) and sustained droughts (developing over months but lasting up to years).

How is Drought Affecting your Neighborhood?

Current Conditions for /city/, /state/ (/county/)

DroughtGov: Did you miss today's California-Nevada #Drought &amp; #Climate Outlook #webinar with @DroughtGov @CnapRisa @stephmcafee @NWSCNRFC @USDAClimateHubs? The recording is now online: https://t.co/nxPZFyNRNA

DroughtGov: Over 83% of CA-NV are now drought/dryness free and CA is #drought free for the first time since 2011 according to the #DroughtMonitor. Join us MONDAY on the CA &amp; NV Drought &amp; Climate Outlook to hear the latest update on conditi

DroughtGov: On today's US #DroughtMonitor change map, greens reflect continued #drought 1- to 2-class improvement in the west and northern TX. Conversely conditions degraded (1-class) over the southeast, southern TX, and western WA. https://t.co/qFez

DroughtGov: Today's US #DroughtMonitor shows expanded D0 in WA while western #drought elsewhere improved incl D4 (exceptional drought) removal in NM. A strong gradient of wet vs dry continues over the south/southeast as D0 expanded, D1 introduced to

RTNOAAClimate: Our friends @DroughtGov update the U.S. Drought Monitor map every Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. https://t.co/iAR0NmOEjb https://t.co/rl0UkiizWl

DroughtGov: #California is #drought free for the 1st time since Dec 2011, according to the US #DroughtMonitor! 2017 helped conditions, but mod drought (D1) persisted. This year's wet winter alleviated drought, incl D2-D3 that returned in spring 2018.

DroughtGov: This week's change map for the US #DroughtMonitor shows widespread 1 category improvement of #drought in many areas of the western US and Puerto Rico, w/ 2 cat improvement in central CO. Drought worsened by 1 cat in areas of AL, GA, SC, a

DroughtGov: While there was an improvement of #drought conditions for many areas in the western US on this week's US #DroughtMonitor, exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought remain persistent in NM and CO. Severe drought (D2) remains in AK, AZ, CO,

RTClimateMolly: In Columbia, MO today for a focus group with #specialtycrop growers talking about how drought impacts their crop and decision making. How did the drought in 2018 compare to 2012? In this area - it was worse. One grower said "2012 was

RTusbr: After a year of competitive forecasting, the Bureau of Reclamation has selected three winning teams to share $525,000 in the Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo. These three teams out-performed the baseline forecasts. #weatherforecasting #sub-sea

RTNOAANCEIclimate: Nineteen states from coast-to-coast had a top 10 wettest February. https://t.co/33PyHgfDam #StateOfClimate https://t.co/xYLIcQPsGs

DroughtGov: On today's US #DroughtMonitor change map, greens reflect continued #drought 1-class improvement from the west's stormy weather pattern. Conversely conditions degraded (1-class) over central and northern TX as short-term dryness inten

DroughtGov: Today's US #DroughtMonitor shows continued #drought recovery from the west's stormy weather pattern, though dry-drought conditions persist. Conversely drought (D1) expanded over central and northern TX as short-term dryness intensifi

RTMidwestClimate: The Midwest was completely free of #drought and abnormally dry conditions in the February 26 U.S. Drought Monitor, only the third time that has happened since January 2000. This may affect planting in the region. Read more in the Midwest

DroughtGov: Comparing the US #DroughtMonitor from this week (right) to last week (left), extreme #drought (D3) was removed from OR and portions of CO, and exceptional drought (D4) reduced slightly in NM. Moderate (D1) and severe drought (D2) improved in m

News & Updates

Year in Review: A Look Back at Drought across the United States in 2018

Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo Winners Announced

NIDIS Illustrates Transboundary Drought Early Warning Systems in Advancing Sustainability of U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Drylands: Proceedings of a Workshop (2018)

Featured Drought Data, Maps & Tools

Drought Impacts Report

The National Drought Mitigation Center developed this database of drought impacts, which can be searched by location, type of impact, time period and more.

Drought Impacts Report

Wildfire Risks

The National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho, produces these maps monthly.

Wildfire Risks

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts (developing over a few weeks) and sustained droughts (developing over months but lasting up to years).

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)

State Programs

Regional Climate Centers

NIDIS Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS)

How is Drought Affecting your Neighborhood?

Current Conditions for /city/, /state/ (/county/)

News & Updates

Featured Drought Data, Maps & Tools

Drought Impacts Report The National Drought Mitigation Center developed this database of drought impacts, which can be searched by location, type of impact, time period and more.

Wildfire Risks The National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho, produces these maps monthly.

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts (developing over a few weeks) and sustained droughts (developing over months but lasting up to years).

State Programs

Regional Climate Centers

NIDIS Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS)

Drought Impacts Report

The National Drought Mitigation Center developed this database of drought impacts, which can be searched by location, type of impact, time period and more.

Wildfire Risks

The National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho, produces these maps monthly.

Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)

The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) is an experimental tool that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving "flash" droughts (developing over a few weeks) and sustained droughts (developing over months but lasting up to years).