140 Million Americans Remain in Drought Despite Widespread June Relief
Nearly 140 million Americans remain in drought conditions as of June 18th, according to the latest US Drought Monitor report, though the figure represents a significant drop from 150 million the week prior. The monitor showed 45.98% of the combined area covering all 50 states and Puerto Rico in moderate drought or worse, down slightly from 46.93% the previous week.
Heavy precipitation across the Midwest and Southern Plains drove much of the improvement. Flooding rains pushed from South Texas into the Gulf Coast region throughout the week, and parts of Illinois and Indiana recorded rainfall totals 4 to 5 inches above normal. Persistent rainfall across the Midwest and central to southern plains over the past several weeks has contributed to widespread drought relief across those regions.
The South and Southeast also saw broad improvement, though North Carolina and Tennessee experienced some localized degradation. Conditions across the rest of the lower 48 were a mixed picture of improvement and worsening dryness. Puerto Rico saw conditions deteriorate.
Temperatures ran near to above normal across most of the country. The coolest anomalies were concentrated from the central plains into the northern Rocky Mountains, where portions of Montana and Wyoming averaged 4 to 6 degrees below normal. New England sat at the opposite end of the spectrum, with departures running 8 to 10 degrees above normal along the East Coast. California and southern Nevada also experienced warmer than normal conditions.
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