Recent storms have brought significant improvements to drought conditions across the Western U.S., while the Southeast and parts of the Midwest continue to grapple with expanding dry spells, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. 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.
In the West, widespread precipitation has eased drought in Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, and parts of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Record to near-record rainfall totals since October 1 have contributed to these improvements, with cities like Santa Barbara, California, receiving 8.2 inches above normal, and Flagstaff, Arizona, seeing a 5.7-inch surplus. California’s reservoirs remain healthy, with Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville at or above historical averages. However, snowpack conditions in the Pacific Northwest lag behind normal levels, and some areas of northern Colorado and Montana experienced minor drought degradation.
Conversely, the Southeast faces worsening drought conditions, particularly in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Georgia. These areas have seen drought expansion due to short-term precipitation deficits, low streamflows, and poor soil moisture. Moderate drought has also expanded in South Florida. Temperatures in parts of Alabama, Georgia, and western North Carolina were notably warmer than average, exacerbating dryness.
The Midwest presents a mixed picture. Southern Missouri and parts of southern Illinois, central Indiana, and northwestern Michigan saw minor drought improvements following recent rainfall. Yet, record to near-record dryness persists in areas like Duluth, Minnesota, Madison and Green Bay in Wisconsin, Detroit, Michigan, and St. Louis, Missouri. Temperatures varied across the region, with warmer-than-normal conditions in western Minnesota and southern Missouri contrasting cooler areas in eastern Michigan and Ohio.
In the South, dry conditions dominate much of the region, though central and northeastern Texas, southwestern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi received beneficial rainfall that led to some drought relief. Louisiana saw an expansion of moderate and severe drought due to ongoing precipitation shortfalls. Statewide reservoirs in Texas are at 74% capacity, with eastern reservoirs in better condition than those in the west.
The Caribbean experienced some short-term dryness, particularly in central Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Rainfall was limited, and water levels in wells increased, indicating drying conditions.
Looking ahead, the National Weather Service forecasts moderate precipitation across the South and Southeast, with a significant winter storm expected to impact the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. The West is expected to remain dry in California and the Great Basin, with some precipitation in the Intermountain West and Pacific Northwest. Temperatures are forecasted to be below normal across much of the eastern West, Plains, South, Midwest, and Northeast, while the Southeast and Pacific Coast may experience warmer-than-normal conditions.
These contrasting regional conditions highlight the ongoing challenges and progress in managing drought impacts across the United States as winter approaches.
