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 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.
| Category | Historically observed impacts |
|---|
| D0 | Producers begin supplemental feeding for livestock |
| Planting is postponed; forage germination is stunted; hay cutting is reduced |
| Grass fires increase |
| Surface water levels decline |
| D1 | Dryland crops are stunted |
| Early cattle sales begin |
| Wildfire frequency increases |
| Stock tanks, creeks, streams are low; voluntary water restrictions are requested |
| D2 | 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 |
| Hydroelectric power is compromised; well water use increases; mandatory water restrictions are implemented |
| D3 | Soil has large cracks; soil moisture is very low; dust and sand storms occur |
| Row and forage crops fail to germinate; decreased yields for irrigated crops and very large yield reduction for dryland crops are reported |
| Need for supplemental feed, nutrients, protein, and water for livestock increases; herds are sold |
| Increased risk of large wildfires is noted |
| Many sectors experience financial burden |
| Severe fish, plant, and wildlife loss reported |
| 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 |
| D4 | Exceptional and widespread crop loss is reported; rangeland is dead; producers are not planting fields |
| Culling continues; producers wean calves early and liquidate herds due to importation of hay and water expenses |
| Seafood, forestry, tourism, and agriculture sectors report significant financial loss |
| Extreme sensitivity to fire danger; firework restrictions are implemented |
| Widespread tree mortality is reported; most wildlife species’ health and population are suffering |
| Devastating algae blooms occur; water quality is very poor |
| Exceptional water shortages are noted across surface water sources; water table is declining |
| Boat ramps are closed; obstacles are exposed in water bodies; water levels are at or near historic lows |
How well does this table characterize drought impacts in your state? Think an impact is missing? Please fill out this survey to help improve the table.