The 2021–2025 Intermountain West Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Strategic Action Plan was developed following a series of stakeholder meetings held virtually in October and November 2020. Each virtual meeting was focused on one of the following sector needs: Colorado River management and issues; water management (non-Colorado River); farming and cropping; livestock; recreation and tourism; and forestry, ecology, and fire management. Attendees were asked about how drought impacted their lives, their jobs, and their businesses.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for June–August 2021, with an outlook for October–December 2021. Dated September 2021.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program and partners created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Mid-Atlantic Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
The majority of the Mid-Atlantic experienced temperatures 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit (F) above normal and some sites had among one of their warmest summers on record. The Mid-Atlantic saw generally above normal precipitation, notably in southern New York and northern Pennsylvania, while some areas in Maryland, Virginia, and the panhandle of West Virginia experienced below normal precipitation.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
At most stations outside of Texas, summertime average temperatures were within 1 °F of normal. Most of Texas was 0-2 °F cooler than normal. Summer 2021 was exceptionally wet across most of South Texas, parts of West Texas, and almost all of Mississippi, with many stations reporting more than double the normal monthly precipitation amounts.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
The Summer of 2021 was warm across most of the Midwest, with temperatures 1-5°F above normal. The unseasonably warm temperatures were felt most towards the north. Precipitation was quite variable across the Midwest this summer, with generally wetter conditions to the east and drier conditions in the northwest portions of the region. In central and eastern areas of the Midwest, several heavy rain events led to above-normal precipitation accumulation.
Using the state-of-science and the collective expertise of the NOAA Drought Task Force, this report addresses three questions about the period of below normal rain, snow, runoff, and soil moisture, known as the 2020-21 U.S. Southwest drought: (1) How bad is it? (2) What caused it? And (3) When will it end?
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
Temperatures across the basin were as much as 2°C (4°F) above normal for the summer. For summer and each month of the season, all lake basins except Superior saw near- or above-average precipitation.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
Extreme heat and reduced precipitation in the region this summer had a major impact on crops, grasslands, and wildlife. Many states ranked in the top 10 warmest summers on record. Below normal precipitation was present this season for most of the region.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.
Temperatures were well above average across nearly the entire west and were record breaking in some cases. Over 89% of the western U.S. is in drought, with 54% in extreme to exceptional drought.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for March - May 2021. Dated June 2021.
Summer was up to 2°C (4°F) warmer than normal, being record or near-record warm in some locations. Summer precipitation ranged from 50% of normal to 200% of normal.