For local details and impacts, please contact your State Climatologist or Regional Climate Center.
This summary map is based on a multi-index drought classification scheme.
Drought continues across large sections of the United States, but fortunately July's brutal heat in much of the central and eastern states waned by early August. The combination of heat and drought, however, has increased its adverse effects on the nation's crops. According to the
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS/USDA), the national proportion of certain crops in poor or very poor condition on August 1 do not compare as favorably to the same time last year as they had through much of July, including soybeans (13% in 1999, 11% in 1998), corn (12% vs. 10%), and pastures/rangeland (19% vs. 26%). Furthermore, the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) indicated that through August 4, about 2.58 million acres of land across the United States had been consumed by wildfires this year, an increase of almost 45% over the average of the previous ten years to date. This percentage of the 10-year average has declined slightly over the past few weeks, primarily because of a marked decline in Alaskan wildfires.The Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and upper Ohio Valley --
July 27 - August 1 brought moderate to heavy rains (locally approaching 5") to the southwestern and northern parts of this region, but only light rain (< 1") was observed in most sites east of the Appalachians and south of Maine. August 2-3 were dry throughout the region, but locally heavy thundershowers covered parts of upstate New York, far northwestern Pennsylvania, and northern Ohio on August 4. The dry period, in combination with well-above-normal temperatures until the end of July, allowed drought conditions to intensify across most of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. July monthly rainfall totals were below 1" in parts of central Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, and the New York City area, making July 1999 the driest July on record at a few locations, including Allentown, PA and New York City. In addition, it was the hottest July on record for some locations from Columbus, OH to New York City, and April - July 1999 was the driest such period in the record books at Washington, DC. By August 2, one-year rainfall totals were 10 to 18 inches below normal over much of eastern and southern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, central and western Maryland, and all but southeastern and southwestern Virginia. NASS/USDA reported at least 80% of topsoils in 12 of the region's 15 states were short or very short of moisture on August 1, and that at least 50% of pasturelands were in poor or very poor condition in 11 of the states, including West Virginia (87%), Pennsylvania (89%), Connecticut (94%), and New Jersey (100%). Furthermore, 59% of corn and 24% of oats in Pennsylvania were in poor or very poor condition, as were 15% of soybeans and 20% of corn in Ohio. All of these agricultural statistics were less favorable than during the previous week. In addition, NICC indicated high to very high fire danger in central and western Maryland, northern Virginia, the West Virginia Panhandle, and adjacent southern Pennsylvania. According to streamflow data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 70% of New England's streamflow-reporting sites noted flows in the lowest 25% of all observations for the date on August 2, up from 47% one week prior. Farther south, 76% of mid-Atlantic sites were similarly low (unchanged during the past week), as were 39% of Ohio Valley sites, where substantial rainfall occurred (down from 52% on July 26). OUTLOOK: August 5-9 will continue to bring relatively cool weather to the region, with daily highs expected to average as much as 4F below normal north of Pennsylvania and about 8F below normal in northern Maine. Unfortunately, the cooler air is expected to accompany subnormal rainfall, with 1"+ totals restricted to northern New York, far western West Virginia, extreme southern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky. Meanwhile, only 0.25" to 0.5" is anticipated in southern New England, New Jersey, southern and western Pennsylvania, and most of the mid-Atlantic. For the ensuing 5 days (August 10 - 14), below-normal temperatures are expected to persist (except in Kentucky), as is subnormal rainfall from New York state northeastward. In contrast, above-normal rain is forecast for all but northernmost Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, southwestern Pennsylvaina and most of Ohio. The Southeast--Moderate rains (1" to locally 4") were restricted to parts of the central Gulf Coast and isolated sites in the Florida peninsula while most areas recorded little or no rain and brutally hot conditions. This allowed the area covered by short or very short topsoil moisture to expand to between 43% and 59% of each state from Mississippi eastward through the south Atlantic seaboard, according to NASS/USDA. Pastures remained in relatively good condition, although the proportion in poor or very poor condition climbed to between 10% and 15% in 4 of the 6 states. NASS/USDA also reported that 27% of soybeans, 31% of corn, 16% of cotton, and 7% of peanuts in Georgia were in poor or very poor condition on August 1, as were 12% of Florida peanuts. According to USGS, 67% of observing sites reported streamflows among the lowest 25% on record for August 2, a sharp increase from the 19% that were similarly low on July 15. In addition, NICC indicated high to very high fire danger in parts of central Mississippi, the central Florida panhandle and the lower northern Florida peninsula on August 4. OUTLOOK: Widespread rains of 1 to 4 inches are anticipated for in most of Florida and adjacent Georgia during August 5-9 while 0.5" to 1.0" should dampen the southern halves of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi; far northeastern Tennessee; and the western half of North Carolina. Between 0.25" and 0.5" is forecast elsewhere. Meanwhile, daily high temperatures should average only slightly above normal, a significant improvement from last week's excessive heat. For August 10-14, above-normal temperatures are forecast in northern Florida, central and southern sections of Georgia and Alabama and most of Mississippi, while near-normal readings are expected elsewhere. Subnormal rain is anticipated in central and southern sections of the Florida peninsula, but above-normal totals could be measured in Tennessee, North Carolina and northern South Carolina.The Central Plains, middle Mississippi Valley, and eastern Corn Belt --Heavy rains (1" to locally 4") were widespread in Kansas and scattered across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana during the last week, but large sections of Nebraska, Missouri, the southern Plains, and the lower Ohio Valley received little or no rain. August 2-4 brought moderate to heavy rain to portions of eastern and southern Kansas, all but southeastern Oklahoma, and scattered sections of central and northern Texas, but other areas observed little or no precipitation. The lack of moisture and the presence of excessive heat until late in the period allowed soil moisture to decline for most of the region, with 59% to 85% of each state (except Louisiana) short or very short of topsoil moisture on August 1, according to NASS/USDA. In addition, 28% to 46% of pastures in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri were in poor or very poor condition at that time, and deteriorating crop conditions were also noted in much of the region. In Indiana, 19% of soybeans and 28% of corn were in poor or very poor condition, as were 27% of sorghum and 28% of corn in Missouri. In addition, scattered areas of high fire danger were noted in southwestern Oklahoma, northwestern Arkansas, and southern Illinois on August 2, according to NICC. Farther south, long-term moisture shortages in the Rio Grande Valley remained, with a few of the river's major reservoirs reporting very low water stores. OUTLOOK: Moderate rains (0.5" to 1.0"+) are expected for August 5 - 10 in the Texas panhandle, northeastern Texas, most of the central and lower Mississippi Valley, the central Great Plains south and east of central Kansas, and the lower Ohio Valley/eastern Corn Belt region. Little or no rain is anticipated for western Nebraska and most of central and southern Texas. Daily high temperatures during this period should average near- or below-normal. The ensuing 5 days (August 10 - 14) should bring above-normal rainfall to central and southern Texas as well as Nebraska, the Mississippi Valley from central Arkansas northward, and the lower Ohio Valley/eastern Corn Belt region with subnormal precipitation restricted to western Texas. Temperatures are forecast to average near- or slightly below-normal in the southeastern one-third of Texas, across southern Louisiana, and from Kansas and Missouri northward and northeastward. Above-normal temperatures are expected in central and northwestern Texas, northern Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.
The Southwest, Great Basin, Intermountain West, and northwestern Rockies --During the last 7-10 days, southern areas (especially central and eastern Arizona, southern and eastern Utah, and northern and western New Mexico) continued receiving good monsoonal rains (1" to 4" at many sites). Most other areas were dry until August 4, when scattered thunderstorms developed across parts of Nevada, western Utah, southeastern Idaho and western Montana. As a result, the NICC indicated that fire danger was low to moderate in most of the four-corners states and Montana and southern Idaho as of August 4 while high to locally extreme fire danger existed in southern California, most of Nevada and eastern Oregon, and parts of central and northern Idaho and eastern Washington. It should be noted, however, that high fire danger is not uncommon for many of these regions at this time of year. NASS/USDA indicated that topsoils were short or very short of moisture 80% to 88% of Oregon and Montana, 68% of Washington, 45% to 55% of Idaho and Wyoming, and 27% to 36% of states farther south on August 2. Rangelands weren't faring too badly at that time, with 21% to 47% in poor or very poor condition in Oregon, Montana, and Washington, and less than 20% elsewhere. Washington barley, however, continued to be stressed, with 41% of the crop in poor or very poor condition. OUTLOOK: For August 5-14, good monsoonal rains are expected to continue in the Southwest from central Arizona and eastern Utah eastward. In addition, some beneficial rains may work northward into eastern Oregon and parts of the northern Intermountain West, especially later in the period. Temperatures should generally average near- or below-normal, though above-normal readings are possible along the northern fringe of the region early, and over southeastern Idaho, southern Montana and northeastern Utah later.
Hawaii -- Last week brought a few tenths of an inch of rain and slightly below-normal temperatures to central and western sections of the archipelago. Farther east, 1" to 2" of rain were accompanied by relatively cool conditions on the Big Island. As a result, modest short-term and substantial long-term rainfall shortages remained intact. There is very little chance for relief from long-term dryness in the near future.