Map released: Thurs. October 31, 2024
Data valid: October 29, 2024 at 8 a.m. EDT

Intensity

  • None
  • D0 (Abnormally Dry)
  • D1 (Moderate Drought)
  • D2 (Severe Drought)
  • D3 (Extreme Drought)
  • D4 (Exceptional Drought)
  • No Data

Authors

United States and Puerto Rico Author(s):

Pacific Islands and Virgin Islands Author(s):

The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. Local conditions may vary. See accompanying text summary for forecast statements.

Statistics

Statistics type ?
Week Date None D0-D4 D1-D4 D2-D4 D3-D4 D4 DSCI

Estimated Population in Drought Areas:

Current Impacts


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.

Historic Impacts


No two states have the same experience during a drought. Below are examples of some of the impacts experienced in Rhode Island in the past. The process for developing this example impact table is described in Noel, M., Bathke, D., Fuchs, B., Gutzmer, D., Haigh, T., Hayes, M., Poděbradská, M., Shield, C., Smith, K. and Svoboda, M., 2020. Linking drought impacts to drought severity at the state level. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 101(8), pp.E1312-E1321. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0067.1. To view a more complete record, and to filter impacts by drought severity, sector and season, check out the interactive State Impacts Tool.

CategoryExamples of historically observed impacts
D0Crop growth is stunted; planting is delayed
Fire danger is elevated; spring fire season starts early
Lawns brown early; gardens begin to wilt
Surface water levels decline
D1Honey production declines
Irrigation use increases; hay and grain yields are lower than normal
Trees and landscaping are stressed; fish are stressed
Voluntary water conservation is requested; reservoir and lake levels are below normal capacity
Wildfires and ground fires increase
D2Fish kills occur; wildlife move to farms for food
Golf courses conserve water
Producers begin feeding cattle; hay prices are high
Specialty crops are impacted in both yield and fruit size
Trees are brittle and susceptible to insects
Warnings are issued on outdoor burns; air quality is poor
Water quality is poor; groundwater is declining; irrigation ponds are dry; outdoor water restrictions are implemented
D3Crop loss is widespread; Christmas tree farms are stressed; dairy farmers are struggling financially
Extremely reduced flow to ceased flow of water is observed; river temperatures are warm; wells are running dry; people are digging more and deeper wells
Water recreation and hunting are modified; wildlife disease outbreak is observed
Well drillers and bulk water haulers see increased business

How is drought affecting you?

Use the Condition Monitoring Observer Report (CMOR) system to let us know how dry, wet or normal conditions are affecting you, and see what others are saying.

Submit report