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Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Montana

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 Montana 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 Montana. 

D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture is low; dryland crop germination is poor; pastures are dry
  • Fire danger increases
  • Streamflow is low, affecting recreational fishing
84.4
of MT
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Producers feed livestock supplemental hay; crops are stressed, and growth is poor
  • Fire restrictions are implemented
48.3
of MT
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Hay and crop yields are low; hay quality is poor; subsoil moisture is nonexistent
  • Fire count and danger are high; air quality is poor, with dust and smoke
  • Livestock ponds are low or dry; water quality is monitored; wells are stressed
12.0
of MT
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Crops are not harvestable; winter pasture is opened for grazing; soil has large cracks; fields are bare
  • Cattle have very little water; producers are hauling water and buying supplemental feed, culling cattle, and selling early
  • Fire restrictions increase
0.0
of MT
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Pasture loss is widespread; crops are destroyed
  • Property is closed for hunting
  • Fire risk is extremely high; fires are widespread
0.0
of MT
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture is low; dryland crop germination is poor; pastures are dry
  • Fire danger increases
  • Streamflow is low, affecting recreational fishing
84.4
of MT
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Producers feed livestock supplemental hay; crops are stressed, and growth is poor
  • Fire restrictions are implemented
57.0
of MT
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Hay and crop yields are low; hay quality is poor; subsoil moisture is nonexistent
  • Fire count and danger are high; air quality is poor, with dust and smoke
  • Livestock ponds are low or dry; water quality is monitored; wells are stressed
19.3
of MT
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Crops are not harvestable; winter pasture is opened for grazing; soil has large cracks; fields are bare
  • Cattle have very little water; producers are hauling water and buying supplemental feed, culling cattle, and selling early
  • Fire restrictions increase
3.1
of MT
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Pasture loss is widespread; crops are destroyed
  • Property is closed for hunting
  • Fire risk is extremely high; fires are widespread
0.0
of MT
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Soil moisture is low; dryland crop germination is poor; pastures are dry
  • Fire danger increases
  • Streamflow is low, affecting recreational fishing
95.0
of MT
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Producers feed livestock supplemental hay; crops are stressed, and growth is poor
  • Fire restrictions are implemented
68.1
of MT
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Hay and crop yields are low; hay quality is poor; subsoil moisture is nonexistent
  • Fire count and danger are high; air quality is poor, with dust and smoke
  • Livestock ponds are low or dry; water quality is monitored; wells are stressed
23.8
of MT
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Crops are not harvestable; winter pasture is opened for grazing; soil has large cracks; fields are bare
  • Cattle have very little water; producers are hauling water and buying supplemental feed, culling cattle, and selling early
  • Fire restrictions increase
3.7
of MT
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Pasture loss is widespread; crops are destroyed
  • Property is closed for hunting
  • Fire risk is extremely high; fires are widespread
0.0
of MT
(D4)
580,291
people in Montana are affected by drought
44
counties with USDA disaster designations
18th
driest January was in 2023, over the past 129 years
18th
driest 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 Montana from 2000–Present

The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Montana lasted 307 weeks beginning on May 16, 2000, and ending on March 28, 2006. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of November 23, 2021, where D4 affected 33.10% of Montana 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

Montana Drought Resources

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.

Missouri River Basin & Pacific Northwest Drought Email Lists
Get regional drought status updates right to your inbox, as well as drought news, webinars, and other events for the Missouri River Basin and Pacific Northwest.

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.