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Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Illinois

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 Illinois 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 Illinois.

D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture declines
  • Lawns turn brown
0.0
of IL
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Row crops and pasture show drought stress
  • Fireworks are banned
  • Trees show drought stress; wildlife eat more crops
0.0
of IL
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Row crop and vegetable conditions are poor; hay yield is low; corn is baled for feed; agriculture industry is hurting
  • Outdoor burn bans are implemented
  • Water levels in wells, ponds, rivers, and lakes are low; streamflow is below average; voluntary water conservation is requested
0.0
of IL
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Disease kills deer; fish are stressed
  • Vegetation is stressed
  • Well and reservoir levels are very low
0.0
of IL
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Feed prices are high; crop loss is widespread; livestock are culled
  • Wildlife are severely stressed; fish kills occur in lakes and rivers
0
of IL
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture declines; lawns turn brown
0.0
of IL
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Row crops and pasture show drought stress
  • Fireworks are banned
  • Trees show drought stress; wildlife eat more crops
0.0
of IL
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Row crop and vegetable conditions are poor; hay yield is low; corn is baled for feed; agriculture industry is hurting
  • Outdoor burn bans are implemented
  • Water levels in wells, ponds, rivers, and lakes are low; streamflow is below average; voluntary water conservation is requested
0.0
of IL
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Disease kills deer; fish are stressed
  • Vegetation is stressed
  • Well and reservoir levels are very low
0.0
of IL
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Feed prices are high; crop loss is widespread; livestock are culled
  • Wildlife are severely stressed; fish kills occur in lakes and rivers
0
of IL
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture declines; lawns turn brown
8.6
of IL
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Row crops and pasture show drought stress
  • Fireworks are banned
  • Trees show drought stress; wildlife eat more crops
0.0
of IL
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Row crop and vegetable conditions are poor; hay yield is low; corn is baled for feed; agriculture industry is hurting
  • Outdoor burn bans are implemented
  • Water levels in wells, ponds, rivers, and lakes are low; streamflow is below average; voluntary water conservation is requested
0.0
of IL
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Disease kills deer; fish are stressed
  • Vegetation is stressed
  • Well and reservoir levels are very low
0.0
of IL
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Feed prices are high; crop loss is widespread; livestock are culled
  • Wildlife are severely stressed; fish kills occur in lakes and rivers
0
of IL
(D4)
0
people in Illinois are affected by drought
8
counties with USDA disaster designations
23rd
wettest February was in 2023, over the past 129 years
32nd
wettest year to date was in 2023, over the past 129 years

Explore Drought Conditions by City and County

Summary

View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and county level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps.

View Conditions by City:
View Conditions by County:

Drought in Illinois from 2000–Present

The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Illinois lasted 55 weeks beginning on April 6, 2021, and ending on April 19, 2022. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of July 31, 2012, where D4 affected 8.39% of Illinois land.

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

Drought Resources for Illinois

Stay Informed: Local Drought Updates

Drought Alert Emails
Get email updates when U.S. Drought Monitor conditions change for your location or a new drought outlook is released.

Regional Drought Status Updates
NIDIS & its partners issue regional updates covering drought conditions, outlooks/forecasts, and local impacts.

Midwest Drought Email List
Get regional drought status updates right to your inbox, as well as drought news, webinars, and other events for the Midwest.

North Central U.S. Climate and Drought Summary and Outlook Webinars
This webinar series, which covers the region from the Rockies to the Great Lakes, includes a summary of past and current conditions, potential and ongoing impacts across sectors (e.g., agriculture, water resources, navigation), and outlook information.

Get Involved: Submit Local Drought Impacts

Drought in your area? 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.