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Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Michigan

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 Michigan 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 Michigan.

D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Grass fires increase
  • Lawns are brown; landscape and gardens are watered more frequently
10.1
of MI
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Most crops and vegetation are stressed; farmed Christmas trees are stressed
  • Well levels decline
2.5
of MI
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Corn and soybean yields are low
  • Mature trees are stressed
  • Streamflow is extremely low, potentially too low to irrigate
0.0
of MI
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Fire danger is extreme; buildings are destroyed, and people are evacuated
  • Crop yields are down; irrigation costs rise
  • Power plants operate at reduced capacity or temporarily close
0
of MI
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Michigan has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
0
of MI
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Grass fires increase
  • Lawns are brown; landscape and gardens are watered more frequently
15.8
of MI
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Most crops and vegetation are stressed; farmed Christmas trees are stressed
  • Well levels decline
9.7
of MI
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Corn and soybean yields are low
  • Mature trees are stressed
  • Streamflow is extremely low, potentially too low to irrigate
0.0
of MI
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Fire danger is extreme; buildings are destroyed, and people are evacuated
  • Crop yields are down; irrigation costs rise
  • Power plants operate at reduced capacity or temporarily close
0
of MI
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Michigan has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
0
of MI
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Grass fires increase
  • Lawns are brown; landscape and gardens are watered more frequently
43.6
of MI
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Most crops and vegetation are stressed; farmed Christmas trees are stressed
  • Well levels decline
30.6
of MI
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Corn and soybean yields are low
  • Mature trees are stressed
  • Streamflow is extremely low, potentially too low to irrigate
9.7
of MI
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Fire danger is extreme; buildings are destroyed, and people are evacuated
  • Crop yields are down; irrigation costs rise
  • Power plants operate at reduced capacity or temporarily close
0
of MI
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Michigan has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
0
of MI
(D4)
5,513,264
people in Michigan are affected by drought
9
counties with USDA disaster designations
37th
wettest January was in 2023, over the past 129 years
37th
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 Michigan from 2000–Present

The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1-D4) in Michigan lasted 113 weeks beginning on August 26, 2008, and ending on October 19, 2010. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 28, 2007, where D3 affected 17.06% of Michigan 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 Michigan

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.

Dry Times Bi-Weekly Drought Newsletter
Issued every other Thursday, Dry Times is an email newsletter with the latest drought news, events, and data & maps.

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.