Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Data & Maps

Historical Data and Conditions

By looking back at historical data, communities can get a better understanding of the drought and extreme weather threats to be prepared for. The resources below help document and quantify historical drought conditions in order to help inform planning. Three historical drought datasets can be explored side by side: the U.S. Drought Monitor (weekly, 2000–present); Standardized Precipitation Index (monthly, 1895–present); and June-July-August Palmer Modified Drought Index values from tree-ring reconstructions and instrumental data (yearly, 0–2017).

54.8%

of the U.S. was in drought in September 2012, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor record since 2000

66.2%

of the lower 48 states were in drought in Summer 1934, the most in the lower 48, according to the Living Blended Drought Product since year 0

22.9%

of the U.S. was in Exceptional Drought (D4) in February 1977, according to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) since 1895

82.3%

of the U.S. was Abnormally Wet in May 2019, the most according to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) since 1895

Explore Historical Drought Conditions

U.S. Drought Monitor Category
% of U.S.
0
0
0
0
0
0

The U.S. Drought Monitor (2000–present) depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. Every Thursday, authors from NOAA, USDA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center produce a new map based on their assessments of the best available data and input from local observers. The map uses five categories: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). Learn more.

Time Period (Years): to