Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

2017 Northern Plains Drought Impact Assessment

Project Timeline
December 2017 - May 2019

The 2017 drought was a rapid-onset event for northeast Montana, the Dakotas, and the Canadian Prairies during the spring and summer of 2017. It was the worst drought to impact the U.S. Northern Plains in decades, and it decimated crops across the region, resulting in $2.6 billion in agricultural losses in the U.S. alone, not including additional losses in Canada. The unique circumstances of this drought created an opportunity to evaluate and improve the efficacy of drought-related coordination, communication, and management within the region in preparation for future droughts. This impact assessment includes the evolution of the drought, drought impacts, responses, lessons learned, and needs and gaps in the region based on this experience. 

For more information, view this project's research profile.

General Location
Region
Specific Location
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Regions
Missouri River Basin
Tribal Engagement
Key Partners
NOAA
Montana Climate Office
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
North Dakota State Climate Office
South Dakota State Climate Office
High Plains Regional Climate Center
USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub
NIDIS
Sectors
Agriculture
Wildfire
DEWS Components
Observation & Monitoring
Planning & Preparedness
Prediction & Forecasting
Communication & Outreach
Research & Applications