National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

U.S. Drought Monitor | Click here for a listing of ways to obtain past precipitation

Contiguous U.S. Drought Monitor
High Plains Drought Monitor
WFO Rapid City, SD U.S. Drought Monitor

The categories of drought are defined as follows:

Abnormally Dry (D0)
Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures; fire risk above average. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits; pastures or crops not fully recovered.

Moderate Drought (D1)
Some damage to crops, pastures; fire risk high; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.

Severe Drought (D2)
Crop or pasture losses likely; fire risk very high; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed.

Extreme Drought (D3)
Major crop/pasture losses; extreme fire danger; widespread water shortages or restrictions.

Exceptional Drought (D4)
Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.

Calculated Soil Moisture Anomaly
Calculated Soil Moisture Anomaly
Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
GOES-16 Greenness 8-Day Max (NVDI based)
GOES-16 Greenness 8-Day Max (NVDI based)
GOES-16 Greenness 5-Day Change (NDVI based)
GOES-16 Greenness 5-Day Change (NDVI based)

Past Precipitation

24 Hour Estimated Precipitation
24-Hour Estimated Precipitation 
3 Day Estimated Precipitation
3-Day Estimated Precipitation
5 Day Estimated Precipitation
5-Day Estimated Precipitation
30 Day Estimated Precipitation
30-Day Estimated Precipitation
7-Day Percent of Normal
7-Day Percent of Normal
30-Day Percent of Normal
30-Day Percent of Normal
90-Day Percent of Normal
90-Day Percent of Normal
120-Day Percent of Normal
120-Day Percent of Normal

 

Precipitation Forecast

1 Day Precipitation Forecast
1 Day Precipitation Forecast 
2 Day Precipitation Forecast
2 Day Precipitation Forecast 
3 Day Precipitation Forecast
3 Day Precipitation Forecast
5 Day Precipitation Forecast
5 Day Precipitation Forecast
7 Day Precipitation Forecast
7 Day Precipitation Forecast

 

Precipitation Outlook

6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook
6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook
8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook
8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook
One Precipitation Outlook
One Month Precipitation Outlook
Three Month Precipitation Outlook
Three Month Precipitation Outlook

Departure From Normal

7 Day Departure from Normal Temperature
7 Day Departure from Normal Temperature
14 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
14 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
30 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
30 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
60 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
60 Day Departure From Normal Temperature
Mean Temperature
Mean Temperature

 

Temperature Outlook

6-10 Day Temperature Outlook
6-10 Day Temperature Outlook

8-14 Day Temperature Outlook
8-14 Day Temperature Outlook

One Month Temperature Outlook
One Month Temperature Outlook

Three Month Temperature Outlook
Three Month Temperature Outlook

Related Drought Links

The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), State and Regional Climate Centers, and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Information for this statement has been gathered from a number of different federal, state, and local agencies including the NWS and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Observing Sites, State Cooperative Extension Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and many more.

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information please contact:

Melissa Smith
Service Hydrologist
melissa.smith@noaa.gov

or

Matthew Bunkers
Science and Operations Office
matthew.bunkers@noaa.gov

National Weather Service
300 East Signal Drive
Rapid City South Dakota 57701
605-341-9271 ext. 493