National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Drought Conditions

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Local Drought Statement
Latest Drought Monitor Graphics
Soil Moisture
Precipitation Outlooks
Seasonal Drought Outlook
Acknowledgements and Related Links

  
The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly collaborative effort between a number of federal agencies including NOAA/NWS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Details and explanations of the Drought Monitor can found at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

You can report and view specific drought impacts via the Drought Impact Reporter at: http://droughtreporter.unl.edu

Moderate Drought (D1) - Some damage to crops, pastures; fire risk high; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.

Severe Drought (D2) - Crop or pasture losses likely; fire risk very high; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed.

Extreme Drought (D3) - Major crop/pasture losses; extreme fire danger; widespread water shortages or restrictions.

Exceptional Drought (D4) - Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.

Note:  Drought categories are based on broad-scale indicators over "climate districts" (the gray division lines on the U.S. map above).  The Midwest and state maps below it attempts to delineate the drought categories on a smaller scale map.  Note that because the categories do not follow county lines, the "transition areas" on the regional and state maps may be larger than indicated above.  Also, small-scale factors, such as localized heavy rain from thunderstorms, may affect the drought level over a small area, which may not necessarily be reflected in the maps above. 

Additional soil moisture 
information is available at the MRCC's Midwest Moisture Daily Update                                                 

For the impact on areas crops, visit these USDA sites:

Illinois Weather and Crop Information
 
Iowa Weather and Crop Information

For wildfire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center's Wildland Fire Assessment System.

    Precipitation forecasts are available from  Weather Prediction Center (WPC) 

For probabilistic temperature and precipitation outlooks for week 2 and longer into
the future, consult the following Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Web Sites:

8 to 14 Day Outlook:  http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/

30 Day Outlook:  http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/30day/

90 Day Outlook:  http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=02

Acknowledgements and Related Links:

The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA's National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the USDA, State and Regional Center Climatologists and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for the drought statements has been gathered from NWS, FAA and CoCoRaHS observation sites, Iowa State and Illinois Cooperative Extension Services, the USDA, COE and USGS.

Local weather, climate and water information - http://weather.gov/quadcities

Drought Monitor - http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Illinois State Water Survey Drought Site - http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/hilites/drought

Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service - http://www.extension.iastate.edu

Missouri Department of Natural Resources - http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html

Additional river information -
NWS AHPS Page - http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=dvn
USGS - http://water.usgs.gov
COE - http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil

NOAA Drought Page - http://www.drought.noaa.gov
Climate Prediction Center - http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov 
 NIDIS - National Integrated Drought Information System  - http://www.drought.gov