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 | Drought watches are issued |
| Voluntary water conservation is requested |
| Grass growth slows; lawns begin to go brown |
| River flows begin to drop |
| D1 | Corn yield is low; soybean, cotton, hay and pastures are stressed |
| Wildlife eat crops |
| Fire danger increases; burn bans begin |
| Voluntary water restrictions are requested; river water levels are lower; streams are dry |
| D2 | Hay and pasture supply is low; cattle are weaned early; producers are feeding livestock supplemental hay and baling corn for feed |
| Fire frequency increases |
| Mandatory water restrictions are implemented; reservoir levels are low; water table is dropping |
| D3 | Cattle are sold; hay is extremely scarce |
| Lakes are nearly dry |
| D4 | Voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures are instituted |
| Towns/cities purchase water |
| Lock opening reduced/ended |
| Calls about illegal watering increase and violation warnings are issued |
| Potable water offered to residents |
| Crop yields are down |
| Livestock sales increase |
| Hay is scarce and/or expensive; producers begin feeding hay early |
| Tree farms lose seedlings |
| Fire season begins early; fire danger is high; burn bans are enacted; events are canceled |