U.S. Drought Monitor

 (data through 3/13/12)
Data Source(s): U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Drought Mitigation Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Much of the western U.S. received below-average precipitation during the past 30 days, causing drought conditions to expand and intensify across many regions, according to the March 13 update of the U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 3). Parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies experienced wet conditions where a few late winter storms delivered heavy snow to the mountains and copious rains elsewhere. Precipitation in these areas was 150–200 percent above average and helped maintain drought-free conditions. The biggest downgrades in short-term drought conditions occurred across Arizona, Nevada, and central California, where dry conditions prevailed from late December to mid-March. Drought has intensified from moderate to severe in many parts of these states. Upcoming months offer few opportunities for precipitation as the spring season is normally dry.

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