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Widespread drought conditions and associated impacts likely to persist this summer.

This drought status update summarizes key points from the May 7 Northern Plains Drought Update and Outlook Webinar, which provided an update on and outlook for the ongoing drought conditions across portions of the Northern Great Plains. 

Abnormally dry to severe drought conditions continue to prevail across the islands. Eight consecutive weeks of severe drought conditions in the U.S. Virgin Islands for St. John and St. Thomas will trigger the USDA Farm Service Agency Livestock Forage Disaster Program and a USDA Secretarial Drought Declaration. Isolated areas of beneficial rains have occurred in the Luquillo Mountains and across western Puerto Rico. However, extended forecasts call for near normal to below normal rainfall to be more likely than not through July.

Dry soils are first in line for winter snowmelt.

Northeastern drought springs back into the headlines.

For more details, see the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.

Region Transitions from Dry Winter to Dry Spring with Dry Soils, Rapid Snowmelt, and Intensified and Expanded Drought Impacts.

Next month’s Southeast Monthly Climate Webinar is on Tuesday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern, with a special presentation on "Overview of the U.S. Drought Monitor." Register here for upcoming webinars.