National Drought Mitigation Center

USDM turns 20

The first U.S. Drought Monitor was published in August of 1999. Learn more about its creation, importance and evolution over the past 20 years.

Read the story

What is the U.S. Drought Monitor?

Learn about the beginning and evolution of this valuable tool

Watch the tutorials

Ready for Drought?

Simulate drought scenarios with this community resilience role-playing game

Learn and play

Putting science in your hands

We spread the science of drought to stakeholders close to home, throughout the U.S. and the world. Learn how we continued that mission in our 2018 Annual Report.

Read the report

NDMC works
worldwide

The National Drought Mitigation Center helps decision makers monitor and plan for drought and its effects, both at home and abroad.

NDMC activities abroad

National Drought Mitigation Center

Manage risk
on the ranch

Drought is a normal part of climate, but you can take action before, during and after drought to reduce your risk.

Learn, plan, and prepare

Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington

The Drought Center helps people, organizations and institutions build resilience to drought though monitoring and planning, and we are the academic partner and web host of the U.S. Drought Monitor map. Our capabilities include climatology, social science and public engagement, and we work at all scales, from individual ranches to local, state and tribal government, and countries around the world.