Weekly Drought Monitor Shows Spotty Improvement

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor saw improvements in parts of California and Nevada because of the impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary.

The storm brought record-breaking rainfall accumulations and incidents of flash flooding and mudslides. In the Midwest, light precipitation accumulations fell in northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northern Michigan. Drought conditions worsened in areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, where both short and long-term precipitation deficits continue. Areas of Moderate Drought (D1) and Severe Drought (D2) were removed in Michigan.

No changes were made this week in the Plains states, while some minor improvements took place in northwest Wyoming, and some conditions worsened in South Central Colorado. While some improvement took place in areas of Kansas and Nebraska, long-term dry signals remain in place through most of the region.

In the South, drought-related conditions continued deteriorating as the hot and dry pattern continued across most of the region.