Visibility-obscuring dust storms in Kansas this week caused eight traffic-related deaths, as well as numerous injuries and road closures. Texas also saw numerous dust storms over the past few weeks, with gusts up to 82 mph recorded in the city of Lubbock.
Drought conditions have been worsening in the Southern Plains. Oklahoma has been experiencing wildfires, with four people killed and at least 200 injured this week. Some wildfires are also burning in adjacent areas of southern Kansas and the northern Texas Panhandle. (1/2)
Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos
Mapa publicado: marzo 20, 2025
Our Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch resource helps producers be more informed and prepared.
Learn more: https://drought.unl.edu/ranchplan/
How dry or wet are your local conditions? Share reports to CMOR: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
Much of the southern Great Plains saw degradations, while parts of the Midwest saw improvements. The West saw small areas of improvement, with areas of degradation in Montana, Colorado and New Mexico. Hawaii also had areas of improvement. The Northeast and Southeast experienced mixed conditions.
See more change maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/ChangeMaps.aspx
US Drought Monitor 3-20-25
For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 37.09% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 36.54% last week.
This week’s CMOR photo is from Bedford County, Tennessee.
“Ponds are dried up. Having to do city water at barn and creeks are low.”
Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
As of this week, more than 99% of New Mexico is in abnormal dryness or drought. Inadequate snowpack is affecting the state, with its basins reporting very low snow water equivalent for this time of year. All areas of New Mexico except the northeast corner of the state have reported below-average amounts of precipitation over the past few months.
Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos
Mapa publicado: marzo 13, 2025
ICYMI: The February 2025 drought climate and impacts summaries are now available. https://drought.unl.edu/Publications/DroughtSummaries.aspx
How dry or wet are your local conditions? Share reports to CMOR: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
Most U.S regions saw a mix of conditions this week. The Northeast saw mostly improvements, with areas of degradation in New York and West Virginia. An area of improvement occurred in Hawaii.
See more change maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/ChangeMaps.aspx
US Drought Monitor 3-13-25
For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 36.54% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 37.25% last week.
Drought depleted the Great Lakes in February, in addition to other lakes and reservoirs across the country.
Read more in the February drought impacts summary: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c4658af69dbe4c498339ec5602e20fbb
Drought intensified across parts of the central and western U.S. in February.
Read more in the February drought climate summary: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6dbd676b5a824a14a56b6bfa78380421
This week’s CMOR photo is from Dade County, Missouri.
“I believe runoff from surrounding crop fields draining into pasture to be very low for nearly three years. Stagnant water unable to move is scummy already.”
Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
All of Arizona has been in abnormal dryness or drought since Jan. 21, and another area of exceptional drought developed in western portions of the state. The region continues to face snow drought, with Arizona’s basins reporting Snow Water Equivalent levels from 4 to 39% of normal as of March 5.
Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos
Mapa publicado: marzo 6, 2025
Find more monitoring, planning and education resources on our website: https://drought.unl.edu.
