Spring 2008 U.S. Drought Outlook and January to March Summary

Drought classifications are based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. For a detailed explanation, please visit http://drought.unl.edu/dm/classify.htm The outlook integrates existing conditions with forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

The CPC’s Seasonal Drought Outlook is updated twice a month at
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

Outlook: La Niña conditions are expected to continue well into early summer, affecting weather patterns throughout the United States. Temperatures should be warmer than normal over the southern half of the country, with the warmest temperatures from New Mexico and Texas along the Gulf Coast. Precipitation should follow the typical La Niña pattern: dryness over much of the southern half of the United States, with the driest conditions expected over the Southeast and Arizona. Drought will probably continue to develop over west Texas and New Mexico as well as south Florida. Some improvements will be possible over the West and Mid-Atlantic.

January: Drought status for the United States worsened during the month. January started with 54.6 percent of the country categorized as abnormally dry or in drought and ended with 56.4 percent abnormally dry or in drought. Much of the expansion was in the southern Plains in Texas and Oklahoma. January was a warm month over much of New England and into the Midwest. Temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for the month, with the warmest temperatures recorded in New York. Temperatures were below normal for much of the Southeast and West, ranging from 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal for the month. Dry conditions continued to hamper the Plains, where much of west Texas, western Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota were extremely dry for the month. The Sierra Nevada, San Juan, and Rocky Mountains saw plenty of snowfall and were well above normal for the month.

This figure shows the proportion of the United States in each category of drought for the year that ended in mid-March, 2008.

February: Drought conditions improved across the United States during the month of February. Drought eased up over much of the West and Southeast, while conditions in Texas worsened. February started with 56 percent of the United States classified as abnormally dry or in drought compared to just 50 percent at the end of the month. Precipitation was well above normal for much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and New England regions. Good snowfall continued across the mountains of the west while the Southeast received some relief from Mississippi through Georgia and Florida. Temperatures were 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in the Midwest and into the mountainous West. Temperatures were well above normal in the southern Plains, along the Gulf Coast and up into the Mid-Atlantic regions.

March: Drought improved across the United States during the first few weeks of March. When March started, 50 percent of the country was classified as abnormally dry or in drought compared to 46.7 percent as of March 17, 2008. Improvements over the Southeast continue, as a wetter pattern has brought relief over the short-term, but long-term hydrological problems still exist. Temperatures for March have started off cool, with much of the United States recording below-normal temperatures. March has been wet up to this point over much of east Texas through the Midwest and up into New England as well as Florida. Dry conditions over much of the West have not allowed any improvements.

Back to DroughtScape Spring 2008