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U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought can have far-reaching consequences, including harm to agriculture, water supplies and human health.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a map that shows the location and intensity of drought across the country. The data is updated each Tuesday and released on Thursday.

Below, you can explore current conditions, labeled by intensity, at a national or state level. The D1 through D4 categories indicate drought from moderate to exceptional. D0 is used for "abnormally dry areas that could be entering or recovering from drought."

A team of meteorologists and climatologists use data - such as precipitation, streamflow, reservoir levels, temperature, soil moisture and vegetation health - as well as field observations and local insight from hundreds of experts to develop the maps.

Click on an area to read examples of the effects of the drought there.

Current Status - Map Updated on Jan. 29, 2026

D4: Exceptional
D3: Extreme
D2: Severe
D1: Moderate
D0: Abnormally Dry
Source: National Drought Mitigation Center

Select an Area

Continental United States Drought History

Drought Area in Percent as of Jan. 27, 2026

AreaNot DryD0: Abnormally DryD1: Moderate DroughtD2: Severe DroughtD3: Extreme DroughtD4: Exceptional Drought
Continental United States32.06%24.90%24.07%15.85%3.01%0.11%
Alabama14.88%36.16%23.09%24.24%1.64%0.00%
Alaska86.15%13.85%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Arizona31.98%33.66%28.19%6.18%0.00%0.00%
Arkansas0.44%0.55%42.03%37.78%16.65%2.55%
California100.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Colorado30.06%17.58%29.63%17.06%4.84%0.83%
Connecticut19.10%80.54%0.36%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Delaware20.16%28.25%51.58%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Florida0.00%5.99%20.30%59.69%14.02%0.00%
Georgia0.00%7.28%23.87%59.18%9.67%0.00%
Hawaii15.31%16.04%44.93%19.04%4.68%0.00%
Idaho5.43%41.26%49.88%3.43%0.00%0.00%
Illinois6.94%29.26%47.06%11.35%5.40%0.00%
Indiana17.18%46.65%9.87%16.90%9.40%0.00%
Iowa55.89%43.21%0.90%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Kansas83.09%12.83%4.07%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Kentucky68.75%28.52%2.72%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Louisiana25.14%23.11%31.40%20.36%0.00%0.00%
Maine0.00%0.00%46.19%52.57%1.24%0.00%
Maryland2.71%23.01%31.17%43.11%0.00%0.00%
Massachusetts13.62%40.32%41.78%4.29%0.00%0.00%
Michigan67.59%29.23%2.56%0.62%0.00%0.00%
Minnesota40.17%29.95%25.64%4.24%0.00%0.00%
Mississippi43.98%32.63%14.34%9.05%0.00%0.00%
Missouri10.85%36.27%27.94%24.09%0.86%0.00%
Montana43.42%33.73%13.15%8.24%1.46%0.00%
Nebraska18.94%28.82%40.01%12.23%0.00%0.00%
Nevada55.36%24.35%19.13%1.16%0.00%0.00%
New Hampshire0.00%22.16%36.51%41.33%0.00%0.00%
New Jersey2.40%19.98%61.93%15.69%0.00%0.00%
New Mexico1.01%27.49%21.22%48.29%1.99%0.00%
New York47.55%39.05%13.41%0.00%0.00%0.00%
North Carolina0.00%2.04%35.71%62.25%0.00%0.00%
North Dakota98.10%1.90%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Ohio70.63%12.64%5.40%3.50%7.83%0.00%
Oklahoma17.38%10.93%48.37%15.29%8.03%0.00%
Oregon51.50%31.16%12.56%4.77%0.00%0.00%
Pennsylvania19.02%45.30%28.55%7.12%0.00%0.00%
Rhode Island27.68%47.24%25.08%0.00%0.00%0.00%
South Carolina0.00%0.93%54.65%44.42%0.00%0.00%
South Dakota52.45%32.61%14.94%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Tennessee10.48%27.88%40.01%21.63%0.00%0.00%
Texas5.03%28.31%34.65%16.70%14.95%0.36%
Utah0.00%5.66%52.71%39.49%2.14%0.00%
Vermont35.35%31.28%33.33%0.04%0.00%0.00%
Virginia2.31%21.89%31.36%44.44%0.00%0.00%
Washington26.82%49.29%21.63%2.27%0.00%0.00%
West Virginia80.39%4.09%1.99%13.53%0.00%0.00%
Wisconsin36.70%35.28%24.87%3.15%0.00%0.00%
Wyoming17.82%44.18%20.75%17.25%0.00%0.00%
Puerto Rico84.54%15.46%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

U.S. Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a map that shows the location and intensity of drought across the country. The data is updated each Tuesday and released on Thursday.
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops
  • Some lingering water deficits
  • Pastures or crops not fully recovered
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Some damage to crops, pastures
  • Some water shortages developing
  • Voluntary water-use restrictions requested
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Crop or pasture loss likely
  • Water shortages common
  • Water restrictions imposed
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Major crop/pasture losses
  • Widespread water shortages or restrictions
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses
  • Shortages of water creating water emergencies
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