US Drought Monitor

How much of the United States — and any state — is in drought right now, with the D0–D4 severity breakdown and the recent weekly trend, straight from the official US Drought Monitor. Free, no sign-up.

Severity breakdown
Recent trend

An assessment of current conditions, not a forecast. The US Drought Monitor covers the United States only and updates weekly. For drought outlooks see NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

100% free, no sign-up Official US Drought Monitor data Updates every Thursday

How It Works

Open it and the latest weekly drought picture loads — no account, no key.

1

Read the headline

See what share of the US — or a chosen state — is in drought (D1 or worse) and how much is abnormally dry. Pick any state from the menu.

2

See the severity split

The breakdown bar shows how the area divides across the five categories, from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought), each with its percentage.

3

Watch the trend

The weekly trend shows whether drought is spreading or easing over recent weeks. For the wider hazard picture, see the Live Disaster Map.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of the US is in drought right now?
The headline shows the share of the United States currently in drought — that is, in category D1 (moderate) or worse — along with the share that is abnormally dry or worse (D0+). Pick a state from the menu to see the same figures for that state. The numbers come straight from the latest US Drought Monitor release, which is published every Thursday, and the breakdown below splits the area across the five severity categories.
What do D0, D1, D2, D3 and D4 mean?
The US Drought Monitor uses five levels of increasing severity. D0 is Abnormally Dry — not yet drought, but a precursor or lingering after-effect. D1 is Moderate Drought, D2 Severe Drought, D3 Extreme Drought and D4 Exceptional Drought, the most intense category, associated with widespread crop and pasture losses and water emergencies. When people say an area is "in drought" they usually mean D1 or worse.
How often does the data update, and does it cover outside the US?
The US Drought Monitor is released once a week, every Thursday, and reflects conditions through the preceding Tuesday, so this tool updates weekly too. It covers the United States and its territories only — there is no single equivalent global product, so for other countries you would need your own national drought service. This tool shows the national picture and any US state.
Where does the drought data come from?
The US Drought Monitor is produced jointly by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the US Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is a weekly assessment by expert authors who combine many indicators — rainfall, streamflow, soil moisture, snowpack and local reports. LK Forge reads its public data services and does not produce any assessment of its own.
Is this a forecast?
No — the US Drought Monitor is an assessment of current conditions, not a forecast of future drought. It tells you where drought is now and how bad it is, and the trend shows how the drought-affected area has changed over recent weeks. For drought outlooks and forecasts, see NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
Is it free and does it need an account?
Yes — it is completely free, with no account, no sign-up and no API key. It reads the public US Drought Monitor data services and displays the latest figures the moment the page loads on phone or desktop.

Related hazard & climate tools

Live Disaster Map

Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones and fires on one live map.

Trackers

→

Wildfire Tracker

Live satellite fire detections near you — drought's frequent companion.

Trackers

→

Climate Vital Signs

CO₂, temperature, sea level and more from NOAA, NASA and NSIDC.

Climate

→

Weather Forecast

Current conditions and a 7-day local forecast.

Weather

→

Weather Alerts

Active warnings near you, including fire-weather and heat.

Weather

→

Nature Tools

Plant and tree identifier and grass-seed calculator.

Nature

→