Which states are experiencing drought

Well above normal temperatures returned this week in the Dakotas, where temperatures from 6 to 10 degrees above normal occurred. In the Dakotas, where long-term drought is still ongoing, livestock water quality and fawn production were both reported to be suffering as a result of the drought.

Along the Pacific Coast, near or slightly below normal temperatures combined with heavy precipitation which exceeded 5 inches in some areas to improve drought conditions in parts of northern California, southwest Oregon, and Washington.

In central Utah, groundwater conditions and long-term precipitation deficits had improved enough for some of the exceptional drought to improve to extreme drought. In Montana, much of the eastern part of the state remained dry, leading to some expansion in exceptional drought, where multiple short- and long-term datasets indicate worsening conditions. In western Montana, a small part of exceptional drought improved to extreme drought where short- and long-term precipitation deficits had improved.

In small parts of western Colorado and south-central Wyoming, streamflow and precipitation deficits had decreased enough to lead to improving drought conditions.

Farther east in Colorado, recent warm temperatures combined with dry weather to lead to worsening drought conditions in a few areas. Finally, moderate drought expanded in eastern New Mexico, where short-term dry weather combined with depleted soil moisture to lead to worsening conditions. In Oregon and California, long-term drought conditions have adversely affected salmon populations and migratory birds.

Due to widespread recent precipitation, much of the West region is now experiencing long-term drought, rather than both short- and long-term drought. Widespread rainfall occurred this week in western and eastern sections of Puerto Rico. The drought conditions remained unchanged from last week. There is no change in the drought severity from last week, although in St. Croix moderate drought is noted in the short-term as well as the long-term. Short-term abnormal dryness D0S persists on St.

Thomas, and St. John continues with no dryness designation. For the first 9 days of November, the three monitored sites reported 0. Croix , 0. John , and 0. Thomas , which was only about half of normal, but enough to keep conditions from deteriorating enough to prompt changes in drought severity designations.

But any increase in moisture deficits will necessitate deterioration, especially on St. Croix and St. John recorded 9. Croix 4. Thomas 2. Between 7 and 9 months of the first 10 in were drier than normal across the region, with 2 to 3 of those bringing less than half of normal rainfall. Through early November, St.

Thomas ranges from 8 to 11 inches below normal for the year, including less than half of normal since late August. Meanwhile, only Croix for the first ten months of , where Warmer than normal weather was common this week in central Alaska, while western Alaska and the Alaska Panhandle saw near or cooler than normal temperatures.

Weather in interior Alaska was somewhat dry this week, while precipitation, some heavy, was widespread along the southern coastal areas. Alaska remains free of drought this week. Drier weather continued this week in Hawaii. Abnormal dryness increased in area on Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii, while areas experiencing moderate drought or worse remained unchanged.

Due to building precipitation deficits, both short- and long-term drought are present in Hawaii. Most monitored locations are not experiencing acute dryness at this time, although somewhat below-normal rainfall has been at least occasionally reported for a few months at some locations.

But only Kapingamarangi in the southern reaches of Micronesia is enduring drought conditions at this time, where significantly subnormal rains have prevailed for many months.

Over 2 feet of rain fell on Palau in October, which is over twice normal. November is off to a dry start, with less than an inch reported for the first 9 days of the month, but given the excessive October rains, there are no signs of abnormal dryness.

In Micronesia, the northern and central tiers of islands remain free of dryness, and abnormal dryness D0 came to an end in Nukuoro, south-central Micronesia.

Nukuoro recorded 4. But November rainfall has increased significantly so far, with 7. For western and central areas, Yap, Ulithi, Woleai, and Chuuk Lagoon all recorded above-normal rains of 13 to 16 inches in October, as did Kosrae on the eastern fringes of the archipelago. Moisture has been less abundant in the middle and south-central parts Micronesia, but only the southernmost site of Kapingamarangi — where a protracted, severe drought is entrenched — has any notable degree of dryness.

October was dry in Lukunor, where 7. Last week, fire officials in California were responding to several different wildfires as the state faced record-breaking high temperatures. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles and San Diego both reported record-breaking temperatures last week as well, including some that exceeded degrees Fahrenheit.

A spokesperson for Cal Fire previously told Newsweek that due to it being so dry and hot in the state over the past week, fire officials "need to be extra vigilant and prepared as we always are and ready for wildfire because at any time they can ignite.

Arizona was also battling several wildfires last week, including the Telegraph Fire that burned more than , acres and is currently 89 percent contained. In an interview with The Guardian last week, Kathleen Johnson, a paleoclimatologist at the University of California , Irvine, said: "This current drought is potentially on track to become the worst that we've seen in at least 1, years.

And the reason is linked directly to human-caused climate change. Weather Drought Climate Extreme weather. The color with the hex code 80cdc1 identifies:. The color with the hex code f identifies:. The color with the hex code e identifies:. Temperature Conditions. The color with the hex code c identifies:. The color with the hex code cac identifies:. The color with the hex code c3 identifies:.

The color with the hex code 92c5de identifies:. The color with the hex code d1e5f0 identifies:. The color with the hex code fddbc7 identifies:. The color with the hex code f4a identifies:.

The color with the hex code dd identifies:. The color with the hex code bb identifies:. The color with the hex code ac identifies:. Drought Indicator Blends. Short Term Long Term.

Dry Conditions. The color with the hex code 6aa identifies:. The color with the hex code d52c1f identifies:. The color with the hex code f4ac3d identifies:. The color with the hex code f7d38b identifies:. The color with the hex code fffd54 identifies:. Wet Conditions. The color with the hex code befb70 identifies:.

The color with the hex code 71fbfd identifies:. The color with the hex code 43a9f8 identifies:. The color with the hex code f5 identifies:. The color with the hex code a3 identifies:. Experimental Experimental. Current PDSI. Dry Conditions Relative. The color with the hex code ffaa00 identifies:. The color with the hex code fcd37f identifies:. Wet Conditions Relative. The color with the hex code aaff55 identifies:. The color with the hex code 01ffff identifies:. The color with the hex code 00aaff identifies:.