Exceptional Drought in Parts of Seven States in Southwest

news image
Special Stories
23 Apr 2018 10:55 AM
From NOAA by Rebecca Lindsey The changing of the seasons from winter to spring has brought an unwelcome worsening of drought across the U.S. Southwest and Southern Plains. The animation below shows drought conditions becoming more intense and widespread between the start of the animation on January 9 and the final frame on April 17. At the start of the year, only a few small areas of extreme drought existed in the contiguous United States, the largest of them in Oklahoma and South Dakota. As the season advanced, extreme drought conditions expanded from Oklahoma into Texas and Kansas, with detached pockets also appearing in Arizona and New Mexico by mid-February. By mid-March, drought in the panhandle of Oklahoma had reached “exceptional” status, and severe drought had pushed northward from Arizona and New Mexico into Utah and Colorado. As of mid-April, parts of seven Southwest states had progressed into exceptional drought. Drought impacts are piling up. Endangered fish in the Rio Grande had to be rescued and relocated to wetter stretches as parts of the river in New Mexico dried up. In Arizona and New Mexico, birds and elk have been observed coming to stock ponds and yards for water and food as natural sources of surface water and vegetation become scarce. [Map of drought impacts from the National Drought Mitigation Center] In Colorado, livestock operators are hauling water for cows and sheep as stock ponds and streams dry up, and farmers along the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico have been told to expect half their normal irrigation allotment. Fire danger is extremely high for so early in the season, and burn bans are in place across many counties and forest service districts in multiple states. Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels
All Weather News
More
Hurricane Flossie Now A Major Hurricane

Hurricane Flossie Now A Major Hurricane

Hurricane FlossieThe National Hurricane Cente

2 Jul 2025 3:00 AM
NHC Monitoring Front in the Southeast Ahead of 4th of July

NHC Monitoring Front in the Southeast Ahead of 4th of July

SOUTHEAST - A frontal boundary moving through

2 Jul 2025 3:00 AM
Where Rain Could Dampen Holiday Travel Plans

Where Rain Could Dampen Holiday Travel Plans

AAA is expecting over 70 million travelers to

2 Jul 2025 2:35 AM
Rounds Of Severe For Plains

Rounds Of Severe For Plains

A shortwave trough will move across the plain

2 Jul 2025 2:10 AM
Western Heat Continues With Some Relief

Western Heat Continues With Some Relief

A large dome of hot, high pressure remains ac

2 Jul 2025 2:00 AM
Severe Storms For the East Coast Through Tuesday

Severe Storms For the East Coast Through Tuesday

A cold front moving through a moist airmass h

2 Jul 2025 1:00 AM
Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

It has been an active, severe season across t

30 Jun 2025 9:00 PM