Drought coverage in the Lower 48 is at its lowest level in 17 years of records, according to last week's update of the U.S. Drought Monitor, providing a stunning contrast to the opposite extreme experienced a few years.
About 5 percent of the contiguous United States was in drought as of May 2. Parts of the Southeast, particularly Georgia and Florida, are experiencing the most significant drought conditions, with some locations in the severe to extreme categories.
Last week's update is striking compared to the largest drought coverage ever analyzed by the Drought Monitor on Sept. 25, 2012. In that week's update more than
four years ago and just into Obama's second term, about 65 percent of the U.S. – particularly the Plains, Midwest and West –
was experiencing drought conditions.
The 2012 drought under Obama at its peaked ranked as the worst since December 1939, according to another scale with a longer period of record known as the Palmer Drought Index. The U.S. Drought Monitor database only extends back to 2000.
A large amount of drought reduction has occurred this winter and spring across the United States.
Entering last winter, about 30 percent of the Lower 48 was experiencing drought as of early December. Above-average precipitation whittled that away during winter and into spring, particularly in the West, but also parts of the Plains, South and Northeast.
NOAA reported on Monday that January-April was the fifth wettest such period on record in the Lower 48 dating to 1895. April by itself ranked as the second wettest on record for the U.S.