Map released: Thurs. December 12, 2024
Data valid: December 10, 2024 at 7 a.m. EST

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 Texas 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
D0Grass fires increase
Planting is postponed; forage germination is stunted; hay cutting is reduced
Producers begin supplemental feeding for livestock
Surface water levels decline
D1Dryland crops are stunted
Early cattle sales begin
Stock tanks, creeks, streams are low; voluntary water restrictions are requested
Wildfire frequency increases
D2Hydroelectric power is compromised; well water use increases; mandatory water restrictions are implemented
Pasture conditions are very poor
Soil is hard, hindering planting; crop yields decrease
Wildfire danger is severe; burn bans are implemented
Wildlife moves into populated areas
D3Increased risk of large wildfires is noted
Many sectors experience financial burden
Need for supplemental feed, nutrients, protein, and water for livestock increases; herds are sold
Row and forage crops fail to germinate; decreased yields for irrigated crops and very large yield reduction for dryland crops are reported
Severe fish, plant, and wildlife loss reported
Soil has large cracks; soil moisture is very low; dust and sand storms occur
Water sanitation is a concern; reservoir levels drop significantly; surface water is nearly dry; river flow is very low; salinity increases in bays and estuaries
D4Boat ramps are closed; obstacles are exposed in water bodies; water levels are at or near historic lows
Culling continues; producers wean calves early and liquidate herds due to importation of hay and water expenses
Devastating algae blooms occur; water quality is very poor
Exceptional and widespread crop loss is reported; rangeland is dead; producers are not planting fields
Exceptional water shortages are noted across surface water sources; water table is declining
Extreme sensitivity to fire danger; firework restrictions are implemented
Seafood, forestry, tourism, and agriculture sectors report significant financial loss
Widespread tree mortality is reported; most wildlife species’ health and population are suffering

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.

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