2020–2023 North American drought explained

A drought developed in the Western, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States in the summer of 2020.[1] Similar conditions started in other states in August 2020, including Iowa, Nebraska and certain parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. At the same time, more than 90% of Utah, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico were in some level of drought.[2] Also in drought conditions were Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona.

Over the course of 2021, conditions improved in the Northeast but worsened in the Western United States. As of June 2021, "nearly the entire region (97 percent) [was] facing abnormally dry conditions."[3] Drought also affected a wide area of Mexico in 2021, as well as the prairies of Canada. The drought conditions of 2020 were associated with a moderate La Niña episode that had developed in the Pacific Ocean.[4]

United States

West

See also: Southwestern North American megadrought.

By autumn 2020, the drought in the Western States was the worst since similar drought conditions seven years earlier.[5]

The 2020–2021 drought was described by some as possibly the worst drought in modern history for the Western U.S.[6]

By late spring 2021, dry conditions had expanded to almost the entire state of California and to neighboring Nevada.[7]

In July 2021, after two more extremely dry winters, Lake Powell dropped to its lowest level since 1969 when the reservoir was first filling.[8] [9] Lake Mead fell to a level expected to trigger federally mandated cuts to Arizona and Nevada's water supplies for the first time in history.[10]

The first quarter of 2022 was the driest on record in California and Nevada.[11] Despite June having slightly above average precipitation in California, the state still had its driest first half.[12] This persisted even during the extreme monsoon season, but eased a bit. Since July 28, 2022, Lake Mead rose 1%.[13]

Despite the monsoon, Southern California was put in a drought emergency in December 2022, allowing for water restrictions to be put in place.[14]

2022–2023 California floods

See main article: 2022–2023 California floods. The flooding in late December 2022 and early January 2023 alleviated some of the drought conditions by January 3.[15] By March 16, all exceptional and extreme drought was washed out of California.[16] In mid-April, the Governor announced the state would meet 100% of requested water allocations for the first time since 2006. It is estimated that there was more water in the California snowpack in April of 2023 than the total capacity of Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir.[17]

Midwest

In 2020 Iowa received widespread rain in September which improved the dry conditions for the eastern region of the state.[18] but the western half of the state dealt with severe-to-extreme drought problems which extended past 2020 and into 2021. By late April and early May 2021, though, northern, central and northeastern Iowa had fallen back into dry conditions.[19] By mid-August 2021, drought problems in Iowa had worsened; certain areas across the state were affected with extreme drought conditions by August 13. The northwest and east-central regions of Iowa were especially adversely affected with extreme dry conditions by mid-August.[20] [21]

The 2020–2022 droughts were also affecting Michigan, southern Wisconsin, most of North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota.[22] [23]

In northeastern Illinois near the Chicago metropolitan area, May 2021 was the driest since 2012.[24] As of June 1, 2021, Chicago had only received barely half of one inch of rainfall due to drought in the area.[25] April 2021 was one of the city's driest Aprils on record; only 0.71inches fell in Chicago in April 2021.[26]

By August 12, 2021, Minnesota was having the worst drought spells since the major drought in the final two years of the late 1980s.[27] Just over seven percent of the state, in particular, nine counties in the northwestern part of Minnesota were having exceptional drought. That was the first time since 1988 the state had been under exceptional dry conditions.[28] The drought conditions in Minnesota during 2021 caused serious comparisons to extremely similar dry conditions eighty-five years prior.[29]

Drought significantly expanded in Minnesota in September 2022, which became the driest on record at the Twin Cities.[30]

Northeast

By late August/early September 2020, the drought conditions in several regions of the United States had worsened. The New England states were also under severe to extreme drought conditions.[31] 2020 became the driest summer on record in Hartford, Connecticut.[32] The abnormally dry summer across the Northeast led to 99% of Rhode Island being in extreme drought by September.[33]

The Northeastern United States were out of drought conditions by the beginning of June 2021.[34] However, throughout July 2022, drought returned and intensified across the Northeast.[35] Newark, New Jersey had their driest July on record in 2022.[36] Massachusetts was hit particularly hard, as by August 16, over 40% of the state was in extreme drought.[37] Almost all of Rhode Island was in extreme drought in mid-August, after the 3rd driest July on record.[38] [39] August was the driest in New York City since 1994.[40] August became the 6th driest on record at JFK International Airport, 4th driest on record at Islip, New York and 3rd driest on record in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[41] However, drought improved in September. By September 27, no part of Maine was in severe drought, and most of the state was out of drought.[42] With precipitation increasing in the fall, especially after Hurricane Nicole, less than 10% of the Northeast was in any kind of drought.[43] [44]

In May 2023, drought conditions resurged over the Northeast, especially in places near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which saw their driest May on record.[45] By August 24, 47 of Pennsylvania’s counties were out of drought, but 20 counties were still under drought watch.[46]

Southeast

By June 2021, moderate drought conditions had developed in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.[47] Drought in North Carolina peaked in early December 2021.[48]

Mexico

As of April 2021, Mexico was facing one of the most widespread droughts in its history, with 85% of the country experiencing drought conditions.[49]

As of April 2022, 30% of Mexico, especially the northern region, still has serious, critical and major drought problems.[50] [51]

Canada

See main article: 2023 Canadian drought. As of spring 2021, extreme drought threatened the southern corners of Manitoba and Saskatchewan after an abnormally dry fall and winter. In June of 2023, some parts of the Great Plains saw a drought that according to the Canadian Drought Monitor was a one in fifty year occurrence.[52] [53]

See also

Droughts

Wildfires

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The 2020 Drought Update. Drought.gov. June 3, 2021.
  2. Web site: A Third of the U.S. Faces Drought. 13 August 2020. Earth Observatory. June 3, 2021.
  3. Web site: Kammeyer. Cora. 2021-06-04. The 2021 Western Drought: What to Expect as Conditions Worsen. live. 2021-06-06. Pacific Institute. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604173912/https://pacinst.org/the-2021-western-drought-what-to-expect-as-conditions-worsen/ . June 4, 2021 .
  4. Web site: Sullivan. Brian. Rojanasakul. Mira. La Niña Roars, Unleashing Fire, Drought and Floods Worldwide. 2021-01-23. 2021-06-06. www.bloomberg.com.
  5. News: The Drought in the West is the Worst Since 2013. Washington Post. June 3, 2021.
  6. Web site: The Western US May be Entering its Most Severe Drought in Modern History. CBS News. June 3, 2021.
  7. Web site: See Where Drought Conditions Have Expanded in California. NBC Los Angeles. June 3, 2021.
  8. News: Lake Powell level about to hit a historic low as West's water crisis deepens. Brian Maffly. Salt Lake Tribune. 2021-07-22.
  9. News: Lake Powell Just Hit Its Lowest Level On Record. Here's What That Means For Colorado And States That Rely On It. Colorado Public Radio. Michael Elizabeth Sakas. 2021-07-24.
  10. News: Severe drought threatens Hoover dam reservoir – and water for US west. The Guardian. Oliver Milman. 2021-07-13.
  11. Web site: March 2022 National Climate Report . NOAA . July 15, 2022.
  12. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/202206 June 2022 National Climate Report
  13. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/wests-drought-recovery-still-years-away-despite-recent-monsoons West's Drought Recovery Still Years Away Despite Recent Monsoons
  14. https://apnews.com/article/droughts-los-angeles-san-diego-climate-and-environment-aee1bdc3f49ee10a333580bf023bca9f Nation's largest water supplier declares drought emergency
  15. https://ktla.com/news/california/is-california-still-in-a-drought-new-map-shows-impact-of-recent-rain/ Is California still in a drought? New map shows impact of recent rain
  16. https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/16/23643203/california-drought-storm-rain-snow-flood-water-spring-outlook California's drought has eased, but the state isn't out of the woods yet
  17. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-04-20/california-boosts-water-allocations-after-wet-winter-full-reservoirs A wet California boosts water allocations to 100% for first time in nearly 20 years
  18. Web site: The Drought Conditions Ease in Iowa, Thanks to Widespread Rain. The Des Moines Register. June 3, 2021.
  19. Web site: The Drought Monitor Shows a Southern Iowa Improvement. KMA Land. June 3, 2021.
  20. Web site: The Iowa Crops are Weathering the Drought. August 13, 2021 . The Iowa Torch. August 15, 2021.
  21. Web site: Transportation, Drought Concerns and the Iowa Fair. The Daily Nonpareil. August 15, 2021.
  22. Web site: Spotty Rain Improves Drought for Parts of the Upper Midwest. The Duluth News Tribune. June 3, 2021.
  23. Web site: Drought Forcing Farmers in the Dakotas to Make Difficult Decisions. 12 April 2021. Successful Farming. June 3, 2021.
  24. Web site: Severe Drought in Cook County. The Chicago Tribune. June 3, 2021.
  25. Web site: The Drought Deepens During Chicago's 4th-Driest Start to the Year. 21 May 2021. WGN. June 3, 2021. "The Drought Deepens During Chicago's 4th-Driest Start to the Year". WGN. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  26. Web site: Chicago Sees One of the Driest Aprils on Record as the Moderate Drought Continues. NBC Chicago. June 3, 2021.
  27. Web site: Drought Becoming the Worst in Minnesota Since 1988. 12 August 2021. KMSP Fox 9. August 15, 2021.
  28. Web site: Despite the Recent Rainfall, Drought Worsens in Minnesota. 13 August 2021. Twin Cities Pioneer Press. August 15, 2021.
  29. Web site: 85 Years Later, Minnesota Farmers Remember the Drought. August 10, 2021 . Inforum. August 15, 2021.
  30. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/29/latest-drought-monitor-shows-dry-conditions-expanding-warming-trend-in-temperatures Driest September on record for Twin Cities; drought widens in Minnesota
  31. Web site: U.S. Drought Area is Expanding Rapidly. 20 October 2020. MLive. June 3, 2021.
  32. News: Dempsey . Christine . Connecticut had hottest summer on record, climate center says . January 28, 2022 . Hartford Courant . Yahoo News . September 10, 2020.
  33. News: 2020 may be warmest on record for Providence . February 4, 2023 . Providence Journal . December 30, 2020.
  34. Web site: Northeast Drought Update. Northeast Regional Climate Center. June 3, 2021.
  35. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/07/28/us/flash-drought-plains-northeast/index.html Flash drought intensifies, causing agriculture concerns in the Plains and water shortages in the Northeast
  36. https://twitter.com/NWSNewYorkNY/status/1554919834021900288 Newark recorded their driest July on record, with just 0.55" of rainfall the entire month. The previous record was 0.84" from 1932. The drier than normal stretch has contributed to an expanding drought in the region. #NYwx #CTwx #NJwx
  37. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/08/18/weather/drought-expands-northeast-texas-climate/index.html All of Massachusetts now in drought amid alarming expansion of dry conditions in Northeast
  38. News: July ends as the third-driest and fourth-warmest on record . November 17, 2022 . Turnto10 . July 31, 2022.
  39. Web site: Most of Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts is in extreme drought . August 18, 2022 .
  40. https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/weather/2022/09/01/this-summer-was-one-of-the-hottest-on-record-for-nyc This summer was one for the record books
  41. https://www.silive.com/weather/2022/09/dry-august-with-severe-drought-on-staten-island-heres-how-much-rain-the-tri-state-experienced.html Dry August: With severe drought on Staten Island, here's how much rain the tri-state experienced
  42. News: Ogrysko . Nicole . Above-average September rainfall ends drought for much of Maine . November 1, 2022 . Maine Public . September 29, 2022.
  43. News: Northeast Drought Update . November 17, 2022 . Northeast Regional Climate Center . November 17, 2022.
  44. https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-northeast-2023-01-24 Drought Status Update for the Northeast
  45. https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/driest-may-central-pa-crop-yields/521-7260be04-a510-4a45-a7fa-614e7b4033d7 Driest May on record affecting central Pa. crop yields
  46. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/weather/2023/08/drought-watch-persists-for-lehigh-valley-and-southeast-pa-even-through-stormy-summer.html?outputType=amp Drought watch persists for Lehigh Valley and southeast Pa., even through stormy summer
  47. Web site: Drought Monitor Narrative. 2021-06-06. droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
  48. https://climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2022/01/from-deluges-to-droughts-in-2021-the-weather-year-in-review/ From Deluges to Droughts in 2021: the Weather Year in Review
  49. Web site: 2021-05-04. Widespread Drought in Mexico. 2021-06-06. earthobservatory.nasa.gov. en.
  50. Areas of Mexico at Most Risk for Running out of Water. InfoBae NewsMagazine. May 22, 2022.
  51. Researchers Warn of Droughts in Early 2022 or Beyond. Fresh Fruit Portal. January 4, 2022 . May 22, 2022.
  52. Web site: Canadian Drought Monitor . Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada . 2023-06-30. 2016-04-26.
  53. News: MacIntosh. Cameron. Pauls. Karen. May 15, 2021. 'Extreme drought' is threatening parts of the Prairies, says Agriculture Canada. CBC. June 6, 2021.

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