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Drought contracted in the nation’s midsection and in the north in the week that ended May 21 but intensified in the Texas Panhandle, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The proportion of the 48 contiguous states in moderate or worse drought decreased to 46.07 percent from 47.66 percent a week earlier, while the proportion in exceptional drought, the worst category, increased to 4.94 percent from 4.4 percent the week before. Drought coverage is down from the record high of 65.45 percent on September 25, 2012, and has decreased in 26 of the last 34 weeks.

Minor adjustments to the map of drought in the United States for the week that ended May 14 resulted in a slightly smaller but more intense area in drought compared with a week earlier. The total area of the 48 contiguous states in moderate drought or worse on the U.S. Drought Monitor map declined to 47.66 percent from 48.06 percent, but the total area in exceptional drought increased, to 4.4 percent from 4.38 percent. The 40 impacts currently in the Drought Impact Reporter for May 9-15 reflect the effects of drought that is entering a third year in some areas.