The United States is facing worsening drought conditions and record-breaking heat as spring progresses, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. Extensive drought degradations were observed across the West, Plains, South and Southeast, with critical impacts on water supplies, agriculture, and ecosystems. 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, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
In the Intermountain West, drought expanded significantly across Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with additional degradation in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Montana. Record-low snowpack levels and anomalous heat are driving concerns for water availability in the coming months. Colorado’s snow water equivalent stands at just 24% of median, while Utah is at 21%. California’s statewide snowpack is only 18% of normal, with the Northern Sierra at a mere 6%. Despite this, California reservoirs like Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville remain above average for this time of year.
The Southwest’s water crisis deepens as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hold 25% and 33% of capacity, respectively, with the Colorado River system at 36% full, down from 41% last year.
Drought expanded and intensified across the Plains from Oklahoma to South Dakota. Oklahoma is nearly 100% in drought categories, while South Dakota reports record low streamflows and poor soil moisture. Several locations in the High Plains, including Grand Island and North Platte in Nebraska and Rapid City in South Dakota, recorded their warmest 90-day periods on record.
The South and Southeast continue to experience severe dryness. Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida face some of the most severe drought conditions, with burn bans in Arkansas and historically low pond levels in Arkansas and northern Florida. Exceptional drought was added in southern Georgia and northern Florida, where low water levels are limiting recreational use of waterways. Record dryness over the past six months has been observed in cities including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Macon, Montgomery, Charlotte, and Raleigh.
In contrast, the Northeast and parts of the Midwest saw improvements due to recent rainfall. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York experienced one-category drought improvements. Snowpack in the Northeast declined seasonally but recent precipitation helped groundwater and soil moisture in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Temperatures remain above normal across much of the country, with the West, Plains, and South experiencing the most significant departures. The National Weather Service forecasts continued above-normal temperatures in the western U.S. and Southern Plains through mid-April, with below-normal temperatures expected in the Northern Plains and New England.
Precipitation forecasts call for 2 to 4 inches of rain across the Southern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast, with lighter amounts in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The West is expected to see light to moderate precipitation, mainly in the Pacific Northwest and northern California, while dry conditions will persist in the Southwest.
The ongoing drought and heat pose challenges for agriculture, water management, and wildfire risk as the nation moves deeper into the growing season.
