Potential Impacts
No two states experience the same set of impacts during a drought.We developed tables of impacts reported during past droughts in each state for each level of drought on the U.S.Drought Monitor.These state - specific possible impacts complement the general, national possible impacts column of the U.S.Drought Monitor Classification Scheme.
To see or report current drought impacts, please visit the Drought Impacts Toolkit, where you can find impacts from media in the Drought Impact Reporter, and from citizen scientists and other volunteer observers under Condition Monitoring Observations.
How well does this table describe drought impacts in your state for each level of drought on the U.S.Drought Monitor ? Is anything missing ? Please fill out this survey to help improve the table.To submit observations about current drought conditions, please submit a Condition Monitoring Observer Report.
| Category | Impact |
|---|
| D0 | Stock pond levels decrease, planting is delayed (particularly for winter wheat), irrigation/watering demands increase |
| D1 | Wheat and grasses are drought stressed; hay demand increases |
| Fire danger increases |
| Pond levels are low; habitat is poor in migratory flyways |
| D2 | Wheat, corn, soybean, and hay yields are low; crops are severely damaged |
| Burn bans are implemented; firework sales are banned; more grass fires occur |
| Blue-green algae impacts water supply; ponds and streams are dry |
| D3 | Cattle sales are high; emergency grazing is opened; corn and wheat crops fail; pasture conditions are poor |
| Major infestation of locusts occurs; quail and pheasant populations are reduced; trees are stressed |
| Emergency water supplies are needed; river levels are low; municipal water restrictions are implemented |
| D4 | All crops are severely impacted/not harvested; ground is cracking |
| Wildfires and large dust storms occur |
| All aquatic species and food chains are affected; fish kills occur |
| Negative impact on economy is noted |
| Irrigation is turned off; river has dried up |