These are the eight states running out of water. To be considered, a state needed to have at least 20% of its land area in severe to exceptional drought conditions. Drought Monitor as of the week ended Sept. 1. reviewed the percentage of land area in severe to exceptional drought from the U.S. To identify the states running out of water, 24/7 Wall St. It appears that people are more conscious of the situation, and there may be ways for state officials to adjust to the problem. This time, reservoirs are at higher levels than they were in the '70s, and water consumption is lower. On the bright side, Rippey noted that the current drought in California is approaching the level of drought experienced in the late 1970s - the last time such drought levels affected the state. In Montana and Washington, there are 14 fires, trailing Idaho, that are at least 16 large fires raging across the state. A really devastating wildfire season, especially for the Northwest.” As of the middle of August, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington - states with the worst drought conditions in the nation - were reporting at least five large active fires each. For that reason, we had a couple million acres burned due to wildfires across the Northwest. “They didn’t get (a spring rainfall) this year - it has been very hot, very dry, on top of lack of snowpack. In addition, “things have gotten worse particularly in the interior,” Rippey said. In California alone, the drought has resulted in the loss of $900 million in crop revenue and $350 million in dairy and live stock revenue.īeyond the economic impacts, municipal cutbacks and water restrictions have a tangible impact on individuals living in these areas. The ramifications of such severe drought conditions for these states and for the nation are manifold. “It is a bit ironic that some of these western Gulf Coast region areas like eastern Texas had the worst flooding in at least 25 years just three months ago, but they’ve had hardly a drop of rain since, so they’ve slipped back into drought fairly quickly,” Rippey said. Unfortunately for many of these states that experienced severe flooding during the wet season, conditions have deteriorated again. In June, because of extended rainfall, the country experienced a one-year low in drought levels nationwide. Across the Great Plains and southward, on the other hand, the wet season typically peaks during May, June and July. For large swaths of the nation, the wet season is primarily in the early spring. climate is also highly variable, which means wet seasons in different parts of the country occur at different times during the year. Snowpack levels, therefore, are very important for water supplies. While Great Plains states rely heavily on groundwater, the western part of the country relies more heavily on surface water, which depends on precipitation and is replenished each year primarily by the spring thaw. Department of Agriculture (USDA), said, “Where people live and where the precipitation falls are two completely different areas.” Consequently, states rely on a range of water sources, and water needs to be transported to meet water demands in each state. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Brad Rippey, agricultural meteorologist with the U.S. MORE: 9 states with the most dangerous weather During times of exceptional drought, these conditions are intensified and water shortages are considered water emergencies. During periods of severe drought or extreme drought, crop or pasture losses are likely, and water shortages and restrictions are common. identified the eight states with the most widespread severe to exceptional drought conditions. Southwest and Central Plains during the last half of this century could be drier and longer than drought conditions seen in those regions in the last 1,000 years.”īased on the most recent drought levels estimated as of the week ended Sept. According to a study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “Droughts in the U.S.
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