Idaho
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 Idaho 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 Idaho.
- Irrigation demand is higher than normal
- Ski areas open later; visitation is lower; snowpack is lower
- Dryland hay and grain crop yields are low; other crops and pasture are in poor condition
- Well levels decline; reservoir levels are low; water shortages occur; water conservation programs are in place
- Fire risk is elevated; fires spread easily
- Grazing season is shortened; vegetation is sparse; crops are left unharvested; feedlots are not profitable
- River levels are very low
- Hydroelectric power is down; irrigation water allotments are significantly curtailed
- Dryland farms are left fallow; forage is limited; cattle herds are cut
- Spring snowpack is very low
- Number of fires increase
- Fire danger is high
- Hydropower generation is affected; power companies may raise rates and/or purchase alternative power
- Trees are stressed and threatened by insect infestation; fish and wildlife populations decrease; habitats are degraded
- Irrigation demand is higher than normal
- Ski areas open later; visitation is lower; snowpack is lower
- Dryland hay and grain crop yields are low; other crops and pasture are in poor condition
- Well levels decline; reservoir levels are low; water shortages occur; water conservation programs are in place
- Fire risk is elevated; fires spread easily
- Grazing season is shortened; vegetation is sparse; crops are left unharvested; feedlots are not profitable
- River levels are very low
- Hydroelectric power is down; irrigation water allotments are significantly curtailed
- Dryland farms are left fallow; forage is limited; cattle herds are cut
- Spring snowpack is very low
- Number of fires increase
- Fire danger is high
- Hydropower generation is affected; power companies may raise rates and/or purchase alternative power
- Trees are stressed and threatened by insect infestation; fish and wildlife populations decrease; habitats are degraded
- Irrigation demand is higher than normal
- Ski areas open later; visitation is lower; snowpack is lower
- Dryland hay and grain crop yields are low; other crops and pasture are in poor condition
- Well levels decline; reservoir levels are low; water shortages occur; water conservation programs are in place
- Fire risk is elevated; fires spread easily
- Grazing season is shortened; vegetation is sparse; crops are left unharvested; feedlots are not profitable
- River levels are very low
- Hydroelectric power is down; irrigation water allotments are significantly curtailed
- Dryland farms are left fallow; forage is limited; cattle herds are cut
- Spring snowpack is very low
- Number of fires increase
- Fire danger is high
- Hydropower generation is affected; power companies may raise rates and/or purchase alternative power
- Trees are stressed and threatened by insect infestation; fish and wildlife populations decrease; habitats are degraded
Explore Drought Conditions by City and County
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.
Drought in Idaho from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Idaho lasted 258 weeks beginning on January 30, 2001, and ending on January 3, 2006. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of December 23, 2003, where D4 affected 40.78% of Idaho 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 Idaho
Idaho Department of Water Resources | Water Data
University of Idaho Extension | Drought Resources
NDMC | Idaho Drought Planning Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency | Idaho
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service | Idaho Snow Survey
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | OTX - Spokane, WA
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | MSO - Missoula, MT
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | BOI - Boise, ID
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | PIH - Pocatello, ID
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service | Idaho Surface Water Supply Index
Western Regional Climate Center
Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Research Consortium (CIRC, a NOAA RISA team)
National Weather Service | Western Region
National Weather Service | Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC)
National Weather Service | Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC)
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.