Drought of 2012 News Archive

Drought continues to intensify over central U.S.

Aug 09, 2012

Drought continued to intensify over parts of the central United States during the 7 days ending on August 7, 2012, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released today.

"This week, we saw extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought continue to expand or intensify over parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois," said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist and U.S. Drought Monitor author at the National Drought Mitigation Center. "New Mexico has also seen some degradation, and D4 drought has been introduced from east central Kansas to west central Missouri."

Fuchs noted that some improvement (from D4 to D3) was seen in portions of South Dakota and Wyoming.

The August 7 Drought Monitor map shows 52.27 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse, compared to 52.65 percent last week; 38.48 percent in severe drought or worse, compared to 38.12 percent a week earlier; 20.18 percent in extreme drought or worse, up from 18.62 the previous week; and 3.51 percent in exceptional drought, up from 2.52 percent last week.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and about 350 drought observers across the country. It is released each Thursday based on data through the previous Tuesday.

Drought Monitor authors synthesize many drought indicators into a single map that identifies areas of the country that are abnormally dry (D0), in moderate drought (D1), in severe drought (D2), extreme drought (D3) and exceptional drought (D4).

Statistics for the percent area in each category of drought are automatically added to the U.S. Drought Monitor website each week for the entire country and Puerto Rico, for the 48 contiguous states, for each climate region, and for individual states: http://drought.unl.edu/MonitoringTools/USDroughtMonitor/DroughtMonitorTips.aspx

The National Climatic Data Center maintains drought data based on the Palmer Drought Severity Index, calculated to the beginning of the historic record: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/sotc/drought/2012/06/uspctarea-wetdry-mod.txt

U.S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Seasonal Drought Outlook: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

Drought intensifies over the middle of the country

Aug 2, 2012

Drought intensified slightly over the Midwest and Great Plains states in the seven days that ended July 31, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released today.

"We saw drought continue to intensify over Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas this week," said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist and U.S. Drought Monitor author at the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "Pretty much all of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are now in extreme drought, and it expanded through much of Oklahoma."

"It’s hard to believe that it's getting worse, but it is, even with some rain in the region," Fuchs said. "Drought continues to intensify through the Midwest and Plains states."

Fuchs noted that good rains in parts of eastern Tennessee, West Virginia, west Texas and northern Colorado brought some relief. Statistics released with the map showed a slight reduction in the total area of the country in moderate drought.

The July 31 Drought Monitor map put 52.65 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse, down from 53.44 percent the week before; 38.12 percent in severe drought or worse, compared with 38.11 a week earlier; 18.62 percent in extreme drought or worse, compared with 17.2 percent the week before; and 2.52 percent in exceptional drought, up from 1.99 percent the preceding week.

Based on the most recent Seasonal Drought Outlook, also released today, Fuchs said, "Drought will continue over much of the country through October. Some improvement is anticipated over the Southwest and up into Utah and Colorado due to a strong monsoon season, and improvements over the Southeast are expected too. Drought will persist over much of the rest of the current drought regions with further development over the Dakotas and into Montana as well as in portions of Texas."

The total area of the country shown in moderate drought or worse has been setting records within the U.S. Drought Monitor’s 12-year history since mid-June. For longer comparisons, researchers look to the Palmer Drought Severity Index.

U.S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Seasonal Drought Outlook: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

-- Kelly Helm Smith, National Drought Mitigation Center

Drought map shows widespread intensification over central United States

Jul 26, 2012

The July 24 U.S. Drought Monitor showed widespread intensification of drought through the middle of the country, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The map also set a record for the fourth straight week for the area in moderate drought or worse in the 12-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The July 24 map put 53.44 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse, up from 53.17 percent the week before; 38.11 percent in severe drought or worse, compared with 35.32 a week earlier; 17.2 percent in extreme drought or worse, compared with 11.32 percent the week before; and 1.99 percent in exceptional drought, up from .83 percent the preceding week.

“We’ve seen tremendous intensification of drought through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansa and Nebraska, and into part of Wyoming and South Dakota in the last week,” said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist and U.S. Drought Monitor author. “The amount of D3 developing in the country has increased quite a bit for each of the last several weeks.”

Fuchs also noted that as of the July 24 U.S. Drought Monitor, every state in the country had at least a small area shown as abnormally dry or worse. “It’s such a broad footprint,” he said.

“This drought is two-pronged,” Fuchs said. “Not only the dryness but the heat is playing a big and important role. Even areas that have picked up rain are still suffering because of the heat.”

The forecast for most of the drought-affected area is for drought to continue to develop and intensify. “Conditions are likely to persist,” Fuchs said. “We’ll see further development and intensification into the fall.” Fuchs based his assessment on the Seasonal Drought Outlook released July 19.

U.S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Seasonal Drought Outlook: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

-- Kelly Helm Smith, National Drought Mitigation Center

July 17 map shows drought spreading and intensifying

Jul 19, 2012

The July 17, 2012, U.S. Drought Monitor map showed increases in the area of the United States in all categories of drought, setting a record for the third consecutive week for the total area of the country in drought during the 12-year history of the map. As of July 17, 53.17 percent of the country was in moderate drought or worse, up from 50.92 percent a week earlier.

"We continue to see drought spreading and intensifying," said Brian Fuchs, climatologist and U.S. Drought Monitor author at the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "Even though we've made improvements in places like Texas where they've had rain, drought has expanded in other areas, like eastern Iowa."

Statistics released with the July 17 Drought Monitor map show 53.17 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse, compared with 50.92 percent a week ago; 35.32 percent severe or worse, compared with 31.11 percent a week ago; 11.32 percent extreme or worse, compared with 9.71 percent a week ago; and .83 percent exceptional or worse, compared with .62 percent a week ago.

"The dryness and heat wave pattern are still locked in," Fuchs said. "The latest forecast says this isn't changing. This could easily go on into September."

The U.S. Drought Monitor map is produced in collaboration by the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and about 350 drought observers across the country. It is released each Thursday based on data through the previous Tuesday.

Statistics for the percent area in each category of drought are automatically added to the U.S. Drought Monitor website each week for the entire country and Puerto Rico, for the 48 contiguous states, for each climate region, and for individual states. (See Accessing USDM Stats for more information on how to get to the statistics.)

The National Climatic Data Center maintains drought data based on the Palmer Drought Severity Index, calculated to the beginning of the historic record.

Drought Expanse Widest in U.S. Drought Monitor's 12-Year History

Jul 13, 2012

The U.S. Drought Monitor dated July 10, 2012, showed the second-largest expanse of the country in severe or worse drought in the 12-year history of the map and the largest expanse in moderate or worse drought.

Eight consecutive weeks of severe drought generally triggers eligibility for drought disaster relief, according to a new streamlined disaster designation process the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced July 11. The USDA press release also announced that more than 1,000 counties in 29 states were eligible for drought disaster assistance.

"The recent heat and dryness is catching up with us on a national scale," said Michael J. Hayes, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL. "This is similar to the 1988 drought, which was the last serious drought in the Corn Belt."

He added though that the current drought is much less serious than the droughts of record, in the 1930s and 1950s. “Those were multiple years, back-to-back,” he said. "Hopefully this will remain a one-year event."

The July 10 map showed 31.11 percent of the entire country in severe drought or worse. The record is 31.78 percent on Sept. 10, 2002. The July 10 map shows 37.19 percent of the contiguous 48 states in severe drought or worse, the second-largest expanse, after 38.04 percent on Sept. 10, 2002.

The first two U.S. Drought Monitor maps in July 2012 set consecutive records for the amount of the United States in moderate drought or worse in the 12-year history of the map.

The July 10 Drought Monitor, released July 12, showed 50.92 percent of the nation’s land area was in various stages of drought, up from 46.84 percent the week before. The previous record was 45.87 percent in drought on Aug. 26, 2003. Looking only at the 48 contiguous states, 60.84 percent of the country’s land area was in moderate drought or worse, up from 55.96 percent the week before. The previous record was 54.79 percent on Aug. 26, 2003.

The U.S. Drought Monitor dates back 12 years, so direct comparisons between current and past droughts are not possible using this tool. However, the National Climatic Data Center maintains similar data based on the Palmer Drought Severity Index for the 48 contiguous states, dating back to the 1800s. That data, updated through May 2012, as of July 12 showed 44.4 percent of the U.S. in moderate to extreme drought, and 23.6 percent in severe to extreme. The record in the NCDC’s Palmer drought data was in July 1934, with 79.9 percent of the U.S. was in moderate to extreme drought, and 63 percent in severe to extreme drought.

"During 2002 and 2003, there were several very significant droughts taking place that had a much greater areal coverage of the more severe and extreme drought categories," Hayes said. "Right now we are seeing pockets of more severe drought, but it is spread out over different parts of the country.

"It’s early in the season, though. The potential development is something we will be watching."

As of July 10, 9.71 percent of the country was in either extreme or exceptional drought.

The U.S. Drought Monitor uses a ranking system that begins at D0 (abnormal dryness) and moves through D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought).

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a joint endeavor by the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and drought observers across the country.

-- Kelly Helm Smith, National Drought Mitigation Center

For more information:

U.S. Drought Monitor maps, archive and data:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

National Climatic Data Center data:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/drought/2012/5

USDA press release:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/dahome?contentid=2012/07/0228.xml

U.S. Drought Monitor shows record-breaking expanse of drought

Jul 05, 2012

More of the United States is in moderate drought or worse than at any other time in the 12-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor, officials from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said today.

Analysis of the latest drought monitor data revealed that 46.84 percent of the nation’s land area is in various stages of drought, up from 42.8 percent a week ago. Previous records were 45.87 percent in drought on Aug. 26, 2003, and 45.64 percent on Sept. 10, 2002.

Looking only at the 48 contiguous states, 55.96 percent of the country’s land area is in moderate drought or worse – also the highest percentage on record in that regard, officials said. The previous highs had been 54.79 percent on Aug. 26, 2003, and 54.63 percent on Sept. 10, 2002.

"The recent heat and dryness is catching up with us on a national scale,” said Michael J. Hayes, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL. “Now, we have a larger section of the country in these lesser categories of drought than we’ve previously experienced in the history of the Drought Monitor."

The monitor uses a ranking system that begins at D0 (abnormal dryness) and moves through D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought).

Moderate drought’s telltale signs are some damage to crops and pastures, with streams, reservoirs or wells getting low. At the other end of the scale, exceptional drought includes widespread crop and pasture losses, as well as shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells, creating water emergencies. So far, just 8.64 percent of the country is in either extreme or exceptional drought.

"During 2002 and 2003, there were several very significant droughts taking place that had a much greater areal coverage of the more severe and extreme drought categories,” Hayes said. “Right now we are seeing pockets of more severe drought, but it is spread out over different parts of the country.

"It’s early in the season, though. The potential development is something we will be watching."

To examine the monitor’s current and archived national, regional and state-by-state drought maps and conditions, go to http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

-- Kelly Helm Smith, National Drought Mitigation Center; Steve Smith, University Communications

Updated Aug 9, 2012