Monthly Drought and Impacts Summary

During November, most of the Northeast received above-normal precipitation. The highest departures from normal occurred from eastern Pennsylvania through southern Maine, where 8-11 inches of precipitation fell during the month, with isolated higher totals. The Northeast experienced cooler than normal temperatures during November. Temperature anomalies ranged from a couple degrees below normal to as many as 8-10 degrees colder than normal. The coldest temperatures, compared to normal readings for November, generally occurred in western New York and southern Maine. During November, the above-normal precipitation allowed for the removal of severe and moderate drought (which had covered 2.4 and 0.11 percent of the region) from northern New York and northern Vermont, such that only abnormally dry conditions remained as of December 4. 

Over the past month, above-normal precipitation fell in most of the Southeast, excluding southern Florida. The highest departures from normal precipitation amounts occurred from northern Georgia through Virginia, where upwards of 150 percent of normal precipitation for November fell, and amounts exceeded 6.5 inches in some locations. Temperatures in the Southeast were generally cooler than normal during November. The coldest areas compared to normal November readings stretched from northern Alabama into northern Virginia, where temperatures dipped from 4 to 8 degrees below normal for the month. Temperatures in the drier Florida Peninsula were generally near normal or 2-4 degrees above normal. Over the course of November, moderate drought was removed from the South Carolina and Georgia Coastal Plains, while moderate drought developed in parts of the Florida Peninsula. For the region, moderate drought coverage increased from 0.62 to 1.56 percent.

Relatively wet conditions occurred in November in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi, while other parts of the region generally received normal or slightly below normal precipitation for the month. The highest precipitation amounts, with some areas receiving between 6.4 and 11 inches of rain for the month, were generally found from eastern Texas into southeastern Arkansas and Mississippi. The South was mostly cooler than normal for November, with widespread areas of 4 to 6 degrees below normal and isolated colder spots. During November, severe drought, which covered 0.22 percent of the region, was eliminated from southwestern Texas, and moderate drought was reduced in this area. Elsewhere, across the month, the already sparse drought coverage remained fairly unchanged. Moderate drought coverage decreased from 1.14 to 0.82 percent.

Relatively wet conditions occurred in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, while near normal or drier than normal conditions were common elsewhere. Much of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio received over 150 percent of their normal November precipitation.  Compared to normal November precipitation, the driest areas of the region were western Missouri, southeastern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. Temperatures during November were quite cool. Much of the region saw temperatures 6 to 10 degrees colder than normal; eastern Kentucky and eastern Ohio were relative warm spots, with temperatures generally 2 to 6 degrees below normal there. The Midwest was drought free at the beginning of December, as a small area of moderate drought in mid-Missouri was removed, constituting a 0.14 percent reduction in drought coverage.

Precipitation was variable across the High Plains region during November. Western and southern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, western Nebraska, parts of central Kansas, and much of Wyoming received above-normal precipitation, with some areas receiving more than 150 percent of their normal November precipitation. The remainder of the region was either near or drier than normal for precipitation during November, with the driest areas being southern and eastern Kansas and east-central Colorado. Temperatures during the month were generally colder than normal. The coldest areas were on the eastern sides of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas, where temperatures were 4-8 degrees below normal. Drought conditions mostly improved during November in the High Plains. Moderate drought was removed from central South Dakota, severe drought was removed from and moderate drought reduced in northern North Dakota, moderate drought was removed from northeastern Kansas, and severe drought was reduced in south-central Wyoming. Severe drought was reduced from 13.31 to 11.84 percent coverage, and moderate drought was reduced from 20.69 to 18.44 percent coverage.

Precipitation varied across the West, with some areas in drought receiving precipitation and some remaining dry. The wettest area compared to normal was central California, where many areas received at least 1.5 inches during the month, with some locations receiving 3 to 9 inches. Much of Oregon and the southern part of Washington received below-normal precipitation for the month, with many locations receiving less than 75 percent of normal precipitation for November. Wetter conditions occurred in parts of central Utah, while southeastern Utah remained dry for the month. Southeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, and western New Mexico also were quite dry for the month. Far northwestern Montana was also very dry, while the eastern Montana plains were wet for November, with some locations receiving over 200 percent of normal. The west coast states were warmer than normal for November, with the warmest temperatures (4 to 6 degrees above normal) taking place in California. Normal or below-normal temperatures were common in western Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and western Colorado. Exceptional drought was reduced in the Four Corners area and removed from the Sangre de Cristo range in south-central Colorado. Extreme drought was introduced in southern coastal California and near the California-Oregon state line. Severe drought was removed from northwestern Montana and southwestern Oregon, and was reduced in adjacent northern California. Moderate drought was expanded in Nevada, California, and southeastern Washington, and was reduced in southern Arizona and eastern New Mexico. Exceptional drought coverage dropped from 3.42 to 2.98 percent, extreme drought coverage from 11.8 to 9.62 percent, severe drought from 31.31 to 28.75 percent, and moderate drought coverage increased from 52.75 to 54.49 percent.