Northern Plains Drought Impact Assessment

The 2017 drought was a rapid-onset event for northeast Montana, the Dakotas, and the Canadian Prairies during the spring and summer of 2017. It was the worst drought to impact the U.S. Northern Plains in decades, and it decimated crops across the region, resulting in $2.6 billion in agricultural losses in the U.S. alone, not including additional losses in Canada. The unique circumstances of this drought created an opportunity to evaluate and improve the efficacy of drought-related coordination, communication, and management within the region in preparation for future droughts. This impact assessment includes the evolution of the drought, drought impacts, reponses, lessons learned, and needs and gaps in the region based on this experience. 

For more information, please contact Britt Parker (britt.parker@noaa.gov).