The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows a warm and dry start to winter has intensified drought conditions across large parts of the United States, with severe drought expanding in the Southeast, South and Midwest, while some western areas see improvements due to recent precipitation. The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Widespread drought expansion in the Southeast and South
Temperatures across much of the Southeast ran above normal last week, with pockets of cooler weather in coastal Carolinas and Florida. Despite some rainfall in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama and Georgia, severe drought spread across northeast Georgia, western South Carolina, and western North Carolina, with new severe drought emerging in central North Carolina. Florida’s southwest and northeast regions saw severe drought growth, and moderate drought expanded throughout south Florida. Alabama also experienced worsening drought conditions, with moderate and severe drought increasing in central and southern areas.
The South faced a nearly dry week, accompanied by above-normal temperatures. Drought worsened across Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Severe and extreme drought expanded notably in Oklahoma and Arkansas, while Texas saw growth in moderate and severe drought, especially in the Panhandle and eastern regions. Far south Texas continues to experience intensifying drought.
Midwest and High Plains see mixed conditions
The Midwest experienced cooler temperatures in the north and warmer conditions in the south. Despite some localized precipitation in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, drought expanded in central and southern Illinois, southern Missouri, and parts of Indiana and Kentucky. Severe and extreme drought increased in central Indiana, while moderate drought appeared in southeastern Kentucky.
The High Plains faced some of the warmest departures, with temperatures more than 15°F above normal in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Minimal precipitation contributed to expanding drought in southern Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado, with moderate and severe drought spreading across these areas.
Western U.S. sees some relief but snow drought persists
The West recorded the largest positive temperature departures, exceeding 15°F above normal in parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Warm conditions favored rain over snow, leading to above-normal precipitation in California, Nevada, Arizona, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. This helped improve severe and extreme drought in northern Montana, Nevada, Arizona, and eastern Oregon. However, snowpack remains critically low across major mountain ranges, including the Cascades and central Rockies, maintaining significant snow drought.
U.S. territories show varied drought status
In the Caribbean, Puerto Rico saw improvements in abnormally dry conditions due to recent rain. The U.S. Virgin Islands remain in moderate to abnormally dry conditions, with water levels indicating ongoing drought on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Pacific islands such as the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Palau, and the Mariana Islands generally remain drought-free or show improvements due to recent rainfall.
Looking ahead
The next week promises active weather across much of the continental U.S., with precipitation expected from the Central Plains through the Midwest and Great Lakes, and widespread rain in the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. However, dry conditions will likely persist in northern Great Plains, California, central and southern Texas, and parts of the Southeast. Temperatures are forecast to remain above normal across most of the country, especially in the northern Plains and West Coast.
