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
Heavy Rainfall & Potential Mudslides Return to California

Heavy Rainfall & Potential Mudslides Return to California

The next storm system is moving onshore from

14 Feb 2025 4:05 AM
Severe Weather Potential Increases This Weekend

Severe Weather Potential Increases This Weekend

A highly amplified jet stream is set to move

14 Feb 2025 4:00 AM
Northeast Braces for Second Storm This Week

Northeast Braces for Second Storm This Week

It has been extremely active across the North

14 Feb 2025 3:55 AM
Snowy Period Ahead for Colorado

Snowy Period Ahead for Colorado

A strong upper low coming out of California w

14 Feb 2025 3:50 AM
Tornadoes Hit the South, Risk Lessens Thursday

Tornadoes Hit the South, Risk Lessens Thursday

At least two tornadoes were confirmed from We

13 Feb 2025 7:50 PM
Heavy Snow Tapering for the Plains, Staying for the Great Lakes

Heavy Snow Tapering for the Plains, Staying for the Great Lakes

A Colorado Low is working across the Plains b

13 Feb 2025 3:20 AM
One More Brutally Cold Morning on the High Plains

One More Brutally Cold Morning on the High Plains

NORTHERN PLAINSA blast of arctic air remains

12 Feb 2025 5:45 PM