U.S. Drought Monitor

 (data through 8/16/11)
Data Source(s): Data Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Drought Mitigation Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Most of the western U.S. remains drought-free after a banner wet winter and spring. The exceptions are Arizona and New Mexico, where drought conditions continued to occupy nearly all of both states. The monsoon started with a bang in a few parts of Arizona—although precipitation was not widespread or heavy enough to improve drought conditions—and a bust for most of New Mexico; precipitation during the last 30 days has also been slightly below average in most of the two states except for the southeastern and southwestern corners of Arizona and New Mexico, respectively. Across the West, the percent of area covered by abnormally dry conditions or a more severe drought category remained virtually unchanged from one month ago and currently sits at about 25 percent, according to the August 16 update of the U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 3).

Drought conditions also remain unchanged in Texas, were exceptional drought conditions currently occupy 75 percent of the state.

Notes: