U.S. Drought Monitor

 (data through 8/17/10)
Data Source(s): U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Drought Mitigation Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The coverage and extent of drought conditions in the western U.S. has not substantially changed during the past 30 days (Figure 3). Currently, only 25 percent of the region is experiencing drought conditions, a decrease of about three percent from one month ago.

Moderate drought is still a concern across much of northern California and small parts of the intermountain West where impacts are expected to predominantly affect water and agriculture resources. Also, abnormally dry conditions cover parts of Nevada and Arizona, although monsoon rains have helped alleviate drought conditions in these areas. However, monsoon rains have been confined largely to higher elevation areas in the Southwest and also in Utah and Colorado. This has helped promote some improvements in short-term drought conditions in Utah and Colorado as well.

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