According to the July 9, 2013 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 44.9% of the contiguous United States, an increase from last week’s 44.1%.The worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) also increased slightly from 13.6% last week to 13.8%. Although monsoon showers brought scattered rainfall to parts of the West, a strong and persistent area of high pressure dominated the circulation over the western half of the contiguous United States, while a slow-moving upper-level trough generated widespread heavy rains across the Southeast. Continued dry weather intensified drought over the Southern Plains.

The full U.S. Drought Monitor weekly update is available from www.drought.gov.

In addition to Drought.gov, you can find further information on the current drought as well as on this week’s Drought Monitor update at the National Drought Mitigation Center. See their recent news releases.

The most recent U.S. Drought Outlook is available from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agriculture Outlook Board provides information about the drought’s influence on crops and livestock.