Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
- Honey production is down; fewer plants are available to pollinate
- Lake and pond levels begin to lower
- Agriculture ponds dry up; farmers are hauling water; hay yield is low
- More insects and voles are observed, although mosquito numbers are down; disease spreads in trout, fish hatchery closes
- Leaves fall early
- Corn is severely stressed; producers are importing hay and selling livestock
- Air quality is poor; burn bans are implemented; active wildfires are reported
- Aquatic species die off
- Water supply is inadequate for wildlife
- Large wildfires are reported
- Honey production is down; fewer plants are available to pollinate
- Lake and pond levels begin to lower
- Agriculture ponds dry up; farmers are hauling water; hay yield is low
- More insects and voles are observed, although mosquito numbers are down; disease spreads in trout, fish hatchery closes
- Leaves fall early
- Corn is severely stressed; producers are importing hay and selling livestock
- Air quality is poor; burn bans are implemented; active wildfires are reported
- Aquatic species die off
- Water supply is inadequate for wildlife
- Large wildfires are reported
- Honey production is down; fewer plants are available to pollinate
- Lake and pond levels begin to lower
- Agriculture ponds dry up; farmers are hauling water; hay yield is low
- More insects and voles are observed, although mosquito numbers are down; disease spreads in trout, fish hatchery closes
- Leaves fall early
- Corn is severely stressed; producers are importing hay and selling livestock
- Air quality is poor; burn bans are implemented; active wildfires are reported
- Aquatic species die off
- Water supply is inadequate for wildlife
- Large wildfires are reported
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 Tennessee from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1-D4) in Tennessee lasted 116 weeks beginning on February 13, 2007, and ending on April 28, 2009. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of October 16, 2007, where D4 affected 70.49% of Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation | Tennessee Drought Resources
2010 Tennessee Drought Management Plan
University of Tennessee Extension
NDMC | Tennessee Drought Planning Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency | Tennessee
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | HUN – Huntsville, AL
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | MEG – Memphis, TN
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | MRX – Morristown, TN
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | OHX – Nashville, TN
Southern Regional Climate Center
Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC)
National Weather Service | Southern Region
National Weather Service | Ohio River Forecast Center (OHRFC)
National Weather Service | Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC)
National Weather Service | Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC)
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.