Although southeast Alaska is one of the wettest areas in North America, it was plagued by a long-lived drought from October 2016 to December 2019. The drought intensified in late 2017 garnering significant attention in Alaska as water restrictions and reservoir levels were too low for hydropower generation to meet capacity. Over the following 18 months, the drought waxed and waned with additional impacts, especially during the hot summer of 2019.

Despite being a humid region, droughts pose a serious threat to the southeastern United States. Recent events, including flash droughts, have caused substantial impacts to agriculture, forestry, water resources, and other sectors and stakeholders. The drought planning literature cites reduced fragmentation and increased coordination as critical needs to improving drought preparedness and response.

Although southeast Alaska is one of the rainiest areas in North America, it was plagued by drought from October 2016 to December 2019. “Extreme drought” was declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor in summer 2019. 

This two-page summary focuses on drought impacts in Southeast Alaska and is part of a collection of two-page summaries discussing the findings of the Southeast Alaska Drought Project. 

Although southeast Alaska is one of the rainiest areas in North America, it was plagued by drought from October 2016 to December 2019. “Extreme drought” was declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor in summer 2019. 

This two-page summary focuses on the causes of drought in Southeast Alaska and is part of a collection of two-page summaries discussing the findings of the Southeast Alaska Drought Project. 

Although southeast Alaska is one of the rainiest areas in North America, it was plagued by drought from October 2016 to December 2019. “Extreme drought” was declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor in summer 2019. 

The purpose of the 2021 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is to summarize the water year conditions and sector impacts as a resource for future management of drought and other climate extremes.

Although southeast Alaska is one of the rainiest areas in North America, it was plagued by drought from October 2016 to December 2019. “Extreme drought” was declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor in summer 2019. 

This two-page summary focuses on the future of drought in Southeast Alaska and is part of a collection of two-page summaries discussing the findings of the Southeast Alaska Drought Project. 

The purpose of this Northwest Florida Water Management District Water Supply Assessment update is to determine, “Whether existing and reasonably anticipated sources of water and conservation efforts are adequate to supply water for all existing legal uses and reasonably anticipated future needs and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems.” Learn more and view past water supply assessment updates on the Northwest Florida Water Management District website.

Severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions have become increasingly common throughout the western United States over the past 20 years.  Abnormally dry conditions can lead to a wide range of negative economic impacts across a wide range of sectors that either directly or indirectly depend on weather-dependent ecosystem services. 

In Water Year 2020, most of Oregon experienced a significant drought with dominant impacts that included wildfires, agricultural and livestock losses, and limited outdoor recreation. Drought in Washington and Idaho was not as widespread or significant, with localized drought in a few basins in south-central Idaho and east of the Cascade Mountain crest in central Washington. Washington and Oregon also experienced major flood events in February; those impacts and others are highlighted as well.