Drought Worsens Nationwide Including Hard-Hit West

The West experienced another dry, quiet week of weather, fostering numerous degradations to the drought depiction. While there was some locally heavy rain, most of the U.S. also joined in on this dry weather pattern.

West
Isolated rain showers were seen in northeastern California, northwestern Nevada and parts of Montana, while rain and thunderstorms associated with the monsoon were extensive throughout New Mexico. Otherwise, it was another dry, unseasonably warm week across much of the West this past week.

Streamflow activity remains well below normal levels across the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington as well as in the mountain ranges of northern Idaho and western Montana. Similarly, poor surface water conditions were present in many streams and rivers of western Wyoming, Utah, western Colorado, central Arizona and northern New Mexico.

Conditions continue to deteriorate across the Pacific Northwest and areas of the Intermountain West, with many areas seeing 1-category degradation. An area of exceptional drought (D4) was added to northern Idaho, while extreme drought (D3) was introduced east of the Cascades in Washington. Three small areas of moderate drought (D3) were established in parts of Utah. A small area of severe drought (D2) was also added to northwestern Washington.

Moderate to extreme drought (D1-D3) worsened across Washington and Oregon, with severe drought (D2) also expanding across southern Idaho, central Utah and northwestern New Mexico. There was also an expansion of extreme drought (D3) in northwestern Colorado, while severe drought (D2) increased across western and southern Wyoming.

Conversely, drought improvement occurred in parts of the Desert Southwest due to the monsoon, providing some minor relief to areas experiencing long-term drought. Severe drought (D2) decreased in coverage across eastern New Mexico. Moderate to severe drought (D1-D2) also improved in north-central and northeastern Montana.
 
High Plains
The High Plains had a busy week of weather, with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Most areas pick up light to moderate rainfall accumulations, but heavier rainfall soaked parts of Kansas with amounts of 3 to 7+ inches.

During the past 30 days, drought-related conditions have improved significantly in northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, southeastern and southwestern South Dakota and southwestern North Dakota as evidenced in a variety of drought monitors, including streamflows, soil moisture and vegetation health indicators.

A small area of severe drought (D2) was removed across southwestern South Dakota. Abnormal dryness and moderate drought (D0-D1) also decreased in coverage across northern North Dakota, southern South Dakota, most of Nebraska, northern Kansas, southeastern Wyoming and eastern Colorado.

South-central South Dakota, however, did see a slight expansion of moderate drought (D2).
 
Midwest
Like the High Plains, it was a fairly soggy and stormy throughout the Midwest this past week. Rainfall amounts generally ranged from 1 to 5 inches, though locally higher amounts of 7 inches or more were also seen. The heaviest amounts occurred in areas in northern Missouri, eastern Iowa, southern Minnesota, central Illinois and northern Indiana. 

Despite recent rainfall events and overall improving conditions, negative soil moisture anomalies are continuing to show up in northern Illinois, northeastern Indiana and southern Michigan.

A small area of moderate drought (D1) was removed in southeastern Iowa, while abnormal dryness (D0) decreased in coverage for both southwestern and southeastern parts of the state. Abnormal dryness and moderate drought (D0-D1) improved across northern Minnesota, central Michigan, northern Illinois and northern Indiana. Abnormal dryness (D0) was also removed in west-central Ohio.
 
South
There were the haves and the have nots in terms of rainfall across the South last week. Monsoonal rain and thunderstorms persist across western and southern Texas, while it was fairly dry across the rest of the region. Given the rain last week and over the past few weeks, improvements were made in western/southern Texas.

Extreme drought (D3) shrunk in size across western Texas. Abnormal dryness and moderate drought (D0-D1) also improved in western and southern Texas.

At the same, abnormal dryness (D0) was either expanded or introduced in southwestern Oklahoma, eastern Louisiana, northern Mississippi and central/eastern Tennessee.
 
Southeast
A tropical disturbance inched across the northern Gulf early last week, bringing beneficial moisture to Florida and the Gulf Coast. Here, rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches. The rest of the Southeast stayed fairly dry though this past week, leading to degradation to abnormally dry and drought conditions.

Areas of moderate drought (D1) were added to western South Carolina, southwestern Georgia and southwestern Alabama. Meanwhile, abnormal dryness was either expanded or introduced to parts of central Alabama, most of Georgia, western South Carolina and south-central North Carolina.

Virginia and Florida remained status quo this week.
 
Northeast
Most of the Northeast saw scattered showers and generally light rainfall accumulations last week. Given the rainfall over the past few weeks, only minor changes occurred this week.

Abnormal dryness (D0) expanded in northern, western and southeastern New York as well as in northeastern Massachusetts. This is in response to growing precipitation deficits and declining groundwater and soil moisture.
 
Looking Ahead to the Next Drought Update
A potent cold front will be slow to move across the eastern U.S. on July 30 through August 1. Slow-moving, repeated rounds of heavy rain will be likely, especially from the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England. Given the potential for heavy rain, concerns for flooding will be elevated during this time.

This cold front will then stall over the Gulf Coast and Southeast August 2 through at least August 4. This will also lead to rounds of moderate to heavy rain daily as a result.

Monsoonal moisture will flow into the Four Corners states and Rockies, allowing for chances of showers and thunderstorms daily. The best chance of thunderstorms will occur in New Mexico and Colorado into western Texas.

Otherwise, the rest of the U.S. will be in a hot, drier weather pattern.

Parts of the Northeast, Southeast, South and Desert Southwest will all likely see improving drought conditions given the rain and thunderstorm potential. The rest of nation will likely experience abnormal dryness and drought conditions worsening or staying status quo.

----
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor