U.S. has smallest drought area since 2020

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a sizable drop in drought areas around the U.S.

“After wet weather and an early spring across much of the country, drought has decreased to around 18 percent of the U.S. by the end of March, down from 20 percent at the end of February, and from 36 percent at the beginning of winter,” NOAA says. “That’s the least amount of drought across the country since May 2020.”

Also, the most intense categories of Extreme and Exceptional Drought covered only about one percent of the country at the end of March, also the lowest amount since May 2020. Farm Policy News says some of the most severe drought conditions currently exist in New Mexico, where 3.51 percent of the state is experiencing exceptional drought and 16.7 percent of the state is experiencing extreme drought. Iowa went from 35 percent extreme drought to 11 percent.