Drought

Drought costs the United States around $40 billion per year. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of droughts.

Most regions in the United States experience some level of drought at least once or more per decade. Starting with below-average precipitation or higher-than-normal temperatures, drought conditions can sap moisture from the environment within a matter of weeks.

Depending on how severe the conditions get and how long they last, drought can devastate crops, dry out forests, promote wildfires, and reduce water available for agriculture, municipal use, hydropower, and ecosystem habitats. Drought also restricts recreational and tourist activities such as boating, fishing, and camping, leading to financial stress for businesses and economies. Higher surface temperatures brought about by global warming are increasing the potential for drought. For example, the decades-long megadrought in the Southwest is at least partially caused by climate change.

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) works to improve the nation’s capacity to proactively manage drought-related risks. Through the U.S. Drought Portal,  Drought.gov , NIDIS provides the best available information to help those affected assess the potential for drought and prepare for, mitigate, and respond to the effects of drought.

For agricultural producers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a leader in monitoring precipitation and providing support in times of drought. Through  Farmers.gov , USDA delivers science-based solutions and technical expertise to help farmers, ranchers, private landowners, and other land managers respond to the challenges of drought.


Maps

The U.S. Federal government has extensive data resources that can be used at national, regional, and local levels to monitor drought conditions and reveal trends. Here's a sampling of maps showing conditions related to drought.

Current conditions

Each week, the U.S. Drought Monitor offers a snapshot of current conditions related to drought across the United States.

Click or tap on the map for details.

Each month, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center produces an outlook showing how conditions related to drought are predicted to change over the next month and the next season. Change the map to show or drought outlooks.

Learn more at  Drought.gov  »


Powered by Esri

Future drought tendency

As drought is associated with prolonged periods of little or no precipitation, climate projections for a region's maximum number of consecutive dry days can serve as an indicator of drought tendency. This map shows projections in the contiguous United States for the maximum number of consecutive dry days around the year 2050, based on a high-emissions scenario.

Click or tap the map for future projections.

Change the map to see where and by how much the number of consecutive dry days are projected to increase or decrease around 2050. .

Click or tap the map to explore projected change.



Resources to explore

Here's a selection of federal resources related to drought.