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Local Page: Data & Maps

Data Source Summary

 

Below are all data sources used on the Drought.gov local pages. Have questions about the data, maps, or statistics on Drought.gov? Email us at drought.portal@noaa.gov.

Looking for More Data?

The Drought.gov team reformats data from multiple partners into web- and GIS-ready formats, which we use throughout Drought.gov. These data, hosted on Google Cloud Storage, are free for all to download or reference directly from their web applications.

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Data Source Type

Precipitation and Temperature Conditions

Data Sources
Source Name

Graph: Total Precipitation, Last 30 Days

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Daily
Data Source Description

Source: NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) National Water Prediction Service (NWPS)

Gridded precipitation data for locations across the U.S. were obtained using web services from NOAA's National Water Prediction Service. The 13 NWS River Forecast Centers produce Quantitative Precipitation Estimates for their individual RFC areas using a multi-sensor approach that utilizes radar estimates of precipitation, automated and manual precipitation gauges, and satellite estimates of precipitation. 

Data are updated daily on Drought.gov, with a 2-day delay to allow for data collection and quality control.

Source Name

Graph: Maximum Temperature, Last 30 Days

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Daily
Data Source Description

Source: NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA)

Local temperature information from the Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) dataset was obtained from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction. This graph shows maximum daily temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit.

Data are updated daily on Drought.gov, with a 2-day delay to allow for data collection and quality control.

Source Name

Map: Recent Precipitation Conditions (GridMET)

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updated Daily
Data Source Description

Source: University of California Merced, GridMET

The GridMET precipitation datasets were available from Climate Engine in raster format. Precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control.

Source Name

Map: Recent Maximum Temperature Conditions (GridMET)

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Daily
Data Source Description

Source: University of California Merced, GridMET

The GridMET temperature datasets were available from Climate Engine in raster format. Temperature data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control.

Data Source Type

Future Conditions

Data Sources
Source Name

CPC 8–14 Day Precipitation and Temperature Outlooks

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Daily
Data Source Description

Source: Climate Prediction Center

8–14 Day Precipitation and Temperature Outlooks from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) were available in a GIS format.

Source Name

CPC Monthly and Seasonal Drought Outlooks

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Monthly
Data Source Description

Source: Climate Prediction Center

Monthly and Seasonal Drought Outlooks from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) were available in a GIS format.

Data Source Type

Historical Conditions

Data Sources
Source Name

U.S. Drought Monitor (2000 - Present)

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Weekly
Data Source Description

Sources: NDMCNOAAUSDA

U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) data from the National Drought Mitigation Center were available in a GIS format.

Source Name

Standardized Precipitation Index (1895 - Present)

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Monthly
Data Source Description

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) data was generated using nClimGrid 5km precipitation data. Monthly gridded SPI data was fitted into the U.S. Drought Monitor drought percentile categories. Categories were accumulated to provide statistical information at the CONUS, state, and county scales.

* Currently, data are only available for the contiguous U.S.
Source Name

Paleoclimate Data (0 - 2017)

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Yearly Data (Last Updated 2017)
Data Source Description

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Annual gridded paleoclimate Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) data was fitted into the U.S. Drought Monitor drought percentile categories. Categories were accumulated to provide statistical information at the CONUS, state, and county scales.

* Currently, data are only available for the contiguous U.S.
Data Source Type

Statistics: Drought Numbers by County

Data Sources
Source Name

Population in Drought

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Weekly
Data Source Description

Sources: U.S. Drought Monitor

Data was ingested by the U.S. Drought Monitor web API and stored in a database on the web server.

Source Name

Drought Rankings

Data Source Update Frequency/Last Updated
Updates Monthly
Data Source Description

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

County rank data were ingested from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and joined with spatial data. NCEI updates these precipitation in the first week or two of each calendar month, with data for the previous month. View the update schedule here.