Current Drought Conditions & Data (Regions Experiencing Drought)
- North Carolina Drought One of Many to Watch as Southeast Dries to Record Levels. Go here for Time‑series drought map comparing North Carolina’s worsening drought coverage.
Short-Term Drought Indicator
Long-Term Drought Indicator
Drought forces farmers to make critical choices on both short and long-term scales. In the face of short-term drought, a farmer might need to switch to drought-tolerant crops or varieties with shorter growing seasons. They’ll need to meticulously manage irrigation, balancing immediate water needs against conserving limited supplies for the rest of the growing season. Decisions surrounding livestock might necessitate herd reduction, searching for alternative feed supplies, or making difficult choices about premature selling. In these situations, staying up-to-date on fluctuating market prices for crops and livestock becomes essential due to the impact drought can have on prices and supply chains.
Long-term drought demands a broader perspective. Investing in water-efficient irrigation systems offers resilience in the face of extended dryness. Changing crop rotations to include drought-resistant species or diversifying crops overall spreads risks, ensuring some level of production even in dry years. Soil conservation practices like no-till or cover cropping improve soil’s water-holding ability, reducing vulnerability to prolonged drought. Expanding on-farm water storage by creating ponds or reservoirs builds a buffer for dry years. Over the long term, switching to livestock breeds or crop varieties genetically adapted for drought tolerance prepares the farm to handle arid conditions.
Understanding how drought impacts decision-making requires certain key considerations. Drought monitoring tools and maps are crucial for informed and timely responses. Each farm needs to assess its specific vulnerabilities (soil type, water sources, etc.) to prioritize the most effective strategies. Proactive financial planning, along with exploring crop insurance options, helps mitigate the financial blow of drought events. Finally, staying informed about government programs and support mechanisms designed specifically for drought relief can be a lifeline during difficult years.
Long Loop of Drought Monitor Maps (5 Years)
New data will be added in the coming weeks. To kick things off, I have created a very cool 5-year Drought Monitor loop. The animation is fast, so you may want to watch it a few times. The trends in drought migration are interesting. The long loop above contains 257 images – one for each week between January 4, 2011 (first image) and December 1, 2015 (final image).
View the animated gif (takes longer to load on a slow connection).
Latest Drought Monitor Update Nearing All-Time Records
This has to be one of the more abysmal drought monitor maps we’ve seen across the US in some time. Every state is experiencing at least some form of drought. While we have seen years with pretty severe and expansive drought areas, seeing this much of the US in drought isn’t good. The Inter mountain West and the Southern U.S. are particularly struggling.
Compare 2026 Drought to 2012:
We need water, folks!
Past Data from Drought in North Texas
In North Texas, the drought ended in June 2015 after the historic rainfall during the month of May 2015. In the months that followed, a prolonged dry pattern developed resulting in the return of drought conditions. However, record rainfall once again drenched North Texas in October and again in November, ultimately bringing the drought to an end for the second time in 6 months. In California, the drought is holding strong.
Related Posts:
- Texas Rainfall amounts 24 to 72 to 7 days
- Texas drought ends abruptly following historic rainfall in 2015
- What is the water cycle and how can it be disrupted?
➡︎ Updated Weekly
Additional drought indicators updated at ndmcblends.unl.edu.