U.S. Drought Monitor Update for February 22, 2022

According to the February 22, 2022, U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 48.2% of the United States including Puerto Rico, an increase from last week’s 47.8%. The worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) increased from 9.9% last week to 10.2%. 

This USDM week was bracketed by major winter storms across the CONUS. The upper-level circulation pattern was dominated by a low pressure trough that moved across the country from west to east during the first half of the week. At the surface, a frontal low pressure system brought a wintry mix of rain, snow, and ice to much of the CONUS from the southern Plains to Northeast. At mid-week, a second frontal low pressure system moved across the northern tier states. As the USDM week ended, another upper-level trough dove into the western CONUS with another large frontal low pressure system spreading precipitation from the Rockies to the Ohio Valley. Weekly precipitation totals were above normal from parts of the southern and central Rockies to northern Plains, and across much of the region from north central Texas to northern New England. 

A northwest flow at the upper levels kept most of the West drier than normal, and the storm track east of the Rockies left many areas drier than normal. The dry areas included the central Plains to western Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico coast, and much of the Atlantic coast. Temperatures averaged near to warmer than normal for the week across much of the CONUS east of the Rockies, except for the northern Plains which were colder than normal. A mixed temperature anomaly pattern dominated the western CONUS. Drought or abnormal dryness contracted in parts of the northern tier states and from north central Texas to the Mid-Mississippi Valley where precipitation was above normal. But with drier-than-normal weather dominating this week, drought or abnormal dryness expanded or intensified across much of the Gulf of Mexico coast, into parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, and in parts of the West. Expansion exceeded contraction, with the nationwide moderate to exceptional drought area increasing this week.

Abnormal dryness and drought are currently affecting over 150 million people across the United States including Puerto Rico—about 48.2% of the population.