Alabama
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across Alabama using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.
The following state-specific drought impacts were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in Alabama.
- Forage crops and pasture are stressed; producers feed livestock early
- Ground is hard
- Agriculture ponds and creeks begin to decline
- Cash crop growth and yield are low
- National forests implement campfire and firework bans
- Streams and ponds are low
- Crops are damaged, especially dryland corn
- Burn bans begin
- Large cracks appear in foundations of homes
- Soybean pods shatter
- Large-scale hay shortages occur; producers sell livestock
- Wildfire count and fire danger continue to increase
- Trees and shrubs are defoliated; grass is brown; landscaping projects are delayed
- Wildfire count is very high
- Lakes are extremely low; large municipalities implement water restrictions; water prices increase
- Forage crops and pasture are stressed; producers feed livestock early
- Ground is hard
- Agriculture ponds and creeks begin to decline
- Cash crop growth and yield are low
- National forests implement campfire and firework bans
- Streams and ponds are low
- Crops are damaged, especially dryland corn
- Burn bans begin
- Large cracks appear in foundations of homes
- Soybean pods shatter
- Large-scale hay shortages occur; producers sell livestock
- Wildfire count and fire danger continue to increase
- Trees and shrubs are defoliated; grass is brown; landscaping projects are delayed
- Wildfire count is very high
- Lakes are extremely low; large municipalities implement water restrictions; water prices increase
- Forage crops and pasture are stressed; producers feed livestock early
- Ground is hard
- Agriculture ponds and creeks begin to decline
- Cash crop growth and yield are low
- National forests implement campfire and firework bans
- Streams and ponds are low
- Crops are damaged, especially dryland corn
- Burn bans begin
- Large cracks appear in foundations of homes
- Soybean pods shatter
- Large-scale hay shortages occur; producers sell livestock
- Wildfire count and fire danger continue to increase
- Trees and shrubs are defoliated; grass is brown; landscaping projects are delayed
- Wildfire count is very high
- Lakes are extremely low; large municipalities implement water restrictions; water prices increase
Drought in Alabama from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Alabama lasted 137 weeks beginning on July 27, 2010, and ending on March 5, 2013. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 29, 2000, where D4 affected 77.9% of Alabama land.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are currently in drought. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. The USDM also incorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across the country, including state climatologists, National Weather Service staff, Extension agents, and hydrologists. Learn more.
The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is an index to characterize meteorological drought on a range of timescales, ranging from 1 to 72 months. The SPI is the number of standard deviations that observed cumulative precipitation deviates from the climatological average. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information produce the 9-month SPI values below on a monthly basis, going back to 1895. Learn more.
Tree-rings are used to extend the instrumental record of drought to over 2,000 years. The Living Blended Drought Product (LBDP) is a recalibrated data series of June-July-August Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) values in the lower 48 U.S. states. This dataset blends tree-ring reconstructions and instrumental data to estimate the average summer PMDI values, which extend over 2,000 years in some parts of the U.S. Learn more.
Web Resources for Alabama
2018 Alabama Drought Management Plan
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs | Drought Planning and Management
Alabama Office of the State Climatologist
NDMC | Alabama Drought Planning Resources
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | BMX - Birmingham, AL
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | HUN - Huntsville, AL
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | MOB - Mobile/Pensacola
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | TAE - Tallahassee, FL
Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.