U.S. Drought: Weekly Report for April 18, 2023

According to the April 18, 2023 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 21.6% of the United States including Puerto Rico, a decrease from last week’s 21.8%. The worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) increased from 4.4% last week to 4.6%.

A low-pressure system moved from the Gulf of Mexico across the eastern contiguous U.S. early in this U.S. Drought Monitor week (April 12–18). This was quickly followed by a Pacific frontal system that swept across the contiguous U.S. from coast to coast. However, these systems moved through an upper-level pattern in which a high-pressure ridge dominated. The frontal and low-pressure systems brought above-normal precipitation to parts of the Southeast, Rocky Mountains, and Upper Mississippi Valley, but the ridge generally suppressed precipitation, so most of the CONUS was drier than normal this week. 

Temperatures averaged near to cooler than normal in the West and along parts of the Gulf Coast, while above-normal temperatures dominated from the central Plains to the Northeast. Drought or abnormal dryness expanded or intensified where it continued dry in parts of the central to southern Plains, Mid-Atlantic to southern New England, and northern Florida. Drought or abnormal dryness contracted or reduced in intensity across parts of the West, northern Plains to Upper Mississippi Valley, and other parts of Florida. 

Nationally, contraction exceeded expansion, with the nationwide moderate to exceptional drought area decreasing this week. Abnormal dryness and drought are currently affecting over 115 million people across the United States including Puerto Rico—about 37.1% of the population.