Alaska
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 Alaska 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 drought impacts are specific to Southeast Alaska and were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in Southeast Alaska.
- Some lingering water deficits
- Hydro-power conservation efforts to mitigate economic impacts
- Reservoirs/hydro-power limitations: wells low; water shortages imminent
- Recreation and fish migrations affected by low stream
- Increased threat to forest health (pest/insect)
- Fish hatcheries affected, increased wildlife
- Drinking water shortages common
- Water-use restrictions imposed (seafood processing plants, watering plants)
- Fish kills (low flow, high water temps)
- Significant reduced hydro-power generation
- Widespread water shortages or restrictions
- No hydro-power generation
- Widespread fish kills
- Drought emergency declaration
- Shortages of water in streams and wells creating water emergencies
- Widespread no hydro-power generation
- Drought disaster declaration
- Some lingering water deficits
- Hydro-power conservation efforts to mitigate economic impacts
- Reservoirs/hydro-power limitations: wells low; water shortages imminent
- Recreation and fish migrations affected by low stream
- Increased threat to forest health (pest/insect)
- Fish hatcheries affected, increased wildlife
- Drinking water shortages common
- Water-use restrictions imposed (seafood processing plants, watering plants)
- Fish kills (low flow, high water temps)
- Significant reduced hydro-power generation
- Widespread water shortages or restrictions
- No hydro-power generation
- Widespread fish kills
- Drought emergency declaration
- Shortages of water in streams and wells creating water emergencies
- Widespread no hydro-power generation
- Drought disaster declaration
- Some lingering water deficits
- Hydro-power conservation efforts to mitigate economic impacts
- Reservoirs/hydro-power limitations: wells low; water shortages imminent
- Recreation and fish migrations affected by low stream
- Increased threat to forest health (pest/insect)
- Fish hatcheries affected, increased wildlife
- Drinking water shortages common
- Water-use restrictions imposed (seafood processing plants, watering plants)
- Fish kills (low flow, high water temps)
- Significant reduced hydro-power generation
- Widespread water shortages or restrictions
- No hydro-power generation
- Widespread fish kills
- Drought emergency declaration
- Shortages of water in streams and wells creating water emergencies
- Widespread no hydro-power generation
- Drought disaster declaration
Drought in Alaska from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Alaska lasted 79 weeks beginning on July 17, 2018, and ending on January 14, 2020. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 27, 2019, where D3 affected 1.5% of Alaska 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.
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.