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National Drought Mitigation Center
@droughtcenter.bsky.social
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The Drought Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln helps people, organizations and institutions build drought resilience through monitoring and planning. We are the academic partner and web host of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
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National Drought Mitigation Center @droughtcenter.bsky.social · Feb 4
We host the U.S. Drought Monitor, the nation's leading resource to track drought conditions. Our mission is to reduce the effects of drought on people, the environment and the economy.

Sign up for NDMC Updates: drought.unl.edu/Publications...
Subscribe to NDMC Updates | National Drought Mitigation Center
drought.unl.edu
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Drought cost the western U.S. $3.1 billion in 2025. Read more in the annual drought summaries: drought.unl.edu/Publications...

#drought #drought2025 #news
Boat dock at Lake Buchanan in Burnet County, Texas, on April 4, 2025. An ongoing drought in Central Texas had caused Lake Buchanan to drop 20 feet below its full level.  Larry D. Moore ,  CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
February 6, 2026 at 10:12 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Across the West, snowpack remains well below the seasonal average, despite snowfall in some areas this week.

The Drought Download video series uses maps, climate indicators and graphics to visualize the US Drought Monitor.

Watch video: youtu.be/n5z-C8ZMV_Q

#drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor February 5, 2026
YouTube video by National Drought Mitigation Center
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Extreme drought emerged in parts of the Florida Panhandle this week amid growing precipitation deficits, very low streamflows and declining soil moisture in the Southeast. The region is also seeing increased fire danger.

#drought #drought2026 #Florida
USDM Hot Topic February 5, 2026: Florida. All of Florida is in abnormal dryness or drought for the fourth week in a row. Moderate drought or worse increased from 94.01% to 95.46%. Severe drought or worse rose from 73.71% to 78.68%. Extreme drought expanded from 14.02% to 24.09%. The Drought Severity and Coverage Index increased from 282 to 298 of 500. For more statistics, please refer to the US Drought Monitor website.
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
US Drought Monitor 2-5-26

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 37.41% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 36.08% last week.

#droughtmonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor showing conditions for 2-5-26.
February 5, 2026 at 1:49 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
The Drought Impact Reporter, the first drought impact database in the U.S., marked 20 years of data collection in July 2025. The app has also recently published new visualizations and products.

Learn more: drought.unl.edu/Publications...

#drought #drought2026
Drought Impact Reporter screenshot
February 4, 2026 at 10:08 PM
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This week’s CMOR photo is from Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Submit your photos: go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

#drought #drought2026 #US #CMOR #photos #citizenscience #Georgia
Dry ponds in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, January 28, 2026. Description from CMOR user: “Rainfall has been short in the last 6 months. Our ponds are dry or are almost dry. Winter annuals and cool season perennials have been slow to produce grazing for cattle. More hay and added feed cost have been necessary to maintain cattle weight and reproduction.” CMOR app showing the location of the report in northeast Georgia.
February 2, 2026 at 10:26 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
In the Winter 2026 edition of DroughtScape:
➡️Drought Impact Reporter rolls out new features
➡️Two NASA scientists join the USDM author team
➡️Drought cost the western U.S. $3.1 billion in 2025

Read more: mailchi.mp/unl.edu/drou...

#drought #drought2026 #news #research
DroughtScape winter 2026 quarterly newsletter. Drought Impact Reporter rolls out new visualizations, more accessible data. Two NASA scientists join the U.S. Drought Monitor author team. Drought cost the western U.S. $3.1 billion in 2025. Drought science. Planning sense. https://drought.unl.edu/Publications/DroughtScape.aspx. Image: Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada on Feb. 15, 2025. BLM Nevada, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
January 30, 2026 at 4:57 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Most precipitation across the Lower 48 fell as part of a large winter storm this past week.

The Drought Download video series uses maps, climate indicators and graphics to visualize the US Drought Monitor.

Watch video: youtu.be/7Fod_JWa9vg

#USDroughtMonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor January 29, 2026
YouTube video by National Drought Mitigation Center
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 7:59 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
The recent winter storm brought at least an inch of precipitation to most of Arkansas this week. While ice, sleet and snow damaged some buildings, the moisture was welcome after a dry stretch in the state over the past three months. (1/2)
USDM Hot Topic January 29, 2026: Arkansas. This week, abnormal dryness or drought in Arkansas decreased from 100% to 99.56%. Moderate drought or worse decreased slightly from 99.37% to 99.01%. Severe drought or worse fell from 57.61% to 56.97%. Extreme drought or worse dropped from 20.16% to 19.2%. Exceptional drought remained at 2.55%. For more statistics, please refer to the US Drought Monitor website.
January 29, 2026 at 7:26 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
US Drought Monitor 1-29-26

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 36.08% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 36.89% last week.

#droughtmonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor showing conditions for 1-29-26.
January 29, 2026 at 1:38 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
In the #January2026 Dry Horizons:
➡️New study assesses drought impacts in the Southern Plains
➡️Online course addresses drought risk assessment
➡️Drought expected to worsen in Europe and North America

Read more: mailchi.mp/unl.edu/dry-...

#drought #drought2026 #news #research
A pasture in Shamrock, Texas. Photo by jonbilous, Adobe Stock licensed image.
January 28, 2026 at 6:37 PM
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This week’s CMOR photo is from Stone County, Arkansas.

“Our ponds and tanks are lower than they have ever been. We are extremely dry and have had little to no rain.”

Submit your photos: go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

#drought #drought2026 #US #CMOR #photos #citizenscience #Arkansas
Cows drinking from a very low basin in Stone County, Arkansas, Jan. 22, 2026. CMOR app showing the location of the report in north-central Arkansas.
January 27, 2026 at 9:53 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
The Lower 48 states settled into a calmer weather pattern over the past week.

The Drought Download video series uses maps, climate indicators and graphics to visualize the US Drought Monitor.

Watch video: youtu.be/KntD948_Q7E

#USDroughtMonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor January 22, 2026
YouTube video by National Drought Mitigation Center
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 10:32 PM
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Big news!📣

Two NASA scientists have joined the team of U.S. Drought Monitor authors.

Read more: drought.unl.edu/Publications...
USDA, NDMC, US Department of Commerce, NOAA and NASA logos
January 23, 2026 at 5:56 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
While some precipitation improved abnormal dryness in eastern Colorado, conditions worsened in other parts of the state this week. (1/2)

#drought #drought2026 #Colorado
USDM Hot Topic January 22, 2026: Colorado. This week, abnormal dryness or drought in Colorado decreased from 70.4% to 69.86%. However, moderate drought or worse increased from 47.38% to 51.47%. Severe drought or worse rose slightly from 15.18% to 15.76%. Extreme drought increased from 4.54% to 5.67%. Exceptional drought remained at 0.83%. For more statistics, please refer to the US Drought Monitor website.
January 22, 2026 at 4:50 PM
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US Drought Monitor 1-22-26

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 36.89% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 35.66% last week.

#droughtmonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor showing conditions for 1-22-26.
January 22, 2026 at 1:42 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
This week’s CMOR photo is from White County, Arkansas.

“With very little rain or none, pond is still dropping about a foot or more a day. We have never seen the ponds this low.”

Submit your photos: go.unl.edu/cmor_drought

#drought #drought2026 #US #CMOR #photos #citizenscience #Arkansas
A dry pond in White County, Arkansas, Jan. 13, 2026. A screenshot of the CMOR app, showing the location of the report in central Arkansas.
January 21, 2026 at 6:07 PM
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US Drought Monitor 1-15-26

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 35.66% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 37.57% last week.

#droughtmonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor showing conditions for 1-15-26.
January 16, 2026 at 4:44 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Much of the #Midwest saw above-average temperatures and plenty of rain this week. This allowed moisture to soak into soils, improving drought conditions in parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and northern Missouri.

In southern Missouri, however, drought worsened after a dry week.
USDM Hot Topic January 15, 2026: the Midwest. This week, abnormal dryness or drought in the Midwest receded from 71.61% to 62%. Moderate drought or worse decreased from 36.73% to 28.24%. Severe drought or worse decreased slightly from 8.95% to 8.81%. Extreme drought remained at 1.94%. The Drought Severity and Coverage Index decreased from 119 to 101 of 500.
January 15, 2026 at 5:29 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
Months without rain cut the hay season short in Florida. In addition, southwest Florida was under a Phase I Water Shortage in December. 

Read more in the December drought impacts summary: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ef9e...

#drought #drought2025 #USA #December2025
Retention pond in Tallahassee, Florida, on Dec. 3, 2025. The Bushranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
January 13, 2026 at 9:53 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
In December, above-normal precipitation improved conditions in parts of the western U.S.

Read more in the December drought climate summary: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/dcb4...

#drought #drought2025 #USA #December2025
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Washougal, Washington, on Dec. 13, 2025. Photo by U.S. Forest and Wildlife Service. Public domain.
January 13, 2026 at 9:52 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
The past week featured above-normal temperatures across much of the western half of the U.S.

The Drought Download video series uses maps, climate indicators and graphics to visualize the US Drought Monitor.

#USDroughtMonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor January 8, 2026
YouTube video by National Drought Mitigation Center
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:28 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
California is free of drought and abnormal dryness for the first time since 2000. The state has also experienced periods with less than 1% of abnormal dryness in 2005 and 2011.

#drought2026 #drought #California
USDM map of California, Jan. 8, 2026.
January 8, 2026 at 6:17 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
A generally dry and hot week worsened dryness and drought conditions in every state in the South. This has been drying up pastures across much of the region.

#drought #drought2026 #South
USDM Hot Topic January 8, 2026: the South. This week, abnormal dryness or drought coverage in the South increased from 84.94% to 91.44%. Moderate drought or worse expanded from 51.76% to 66.49%. Severe drought or worse increased from 16.38% to 23.03%. Extreme drought or worse rose from 5.35% to 5.63%. Exceptional drought remained at 0.18%.
January 8, 2026 at 6:17 PM
droughtcenter.bsky.social
US Drought Monitor 1-8-26

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 37.57% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 35.9% last week.

#droughtmonitor #drought #drought2026
US Drought Monitor showing conditions for 1-8-26.
January 8, 2026 at 1:50 PM