National Drought Mitigation Center
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.
The footprint of drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor map shifted south and west during the week that ended April 30, intensifying in southeast Colorado, New Mexico and other spots. A USDA meteorologist noted that there is "an increasingly sharp gradient between drought and non-drought areas" with a north-south line bisecting the country and drought to the west of the line.
Brian Fuchs, NDMC climatologist, will present a OneNOAA Science Seminar and webinar on Tuesday, April 30, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on the soon-to-be-released Drought Risk Atlas. Fuchs will discuss the making of the Atlas, demonstrate some of its features, and talk about what questions it can help answer. For more information or to register please visit http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/2013/04-apr.html#OneNOAAScienceSeminars_30Apr2013_NWS
The U.S. Drought Monitor showed drought shifting incrementally to the west on the map for the week that ended April 23, as drought-busting rains drenched the Midwest. “Improbably, flooding has now replaced drought as the Midwest’s greatest imminent concern,” said Brad Rippey, U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist.