The 2012 drought has become a national phenomenon, impacting at a minimum some portion of every U.S. state and Puerto Rico.

 

As of July 24, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported every state in the country was experiencing “at least a small area shown as abnormally dry or worse.”

 

The drought has gotten worse in the middle of the country, said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist and U.S. Drought Monitor author. “We’ve seen tremendous intensification of drought through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska, and into part of Wyoming and South Dakota in the last week,” Fuchs said. He added that the conditions are likely to intensify between now and the fall.

 

More than half of the U.S. (53%) is currently enduring drought conditions classified as moderate or worse, according to experts.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

To Learn More:

Drought Map Shows Widespread Intensification Over Central United States (Drought Monitor)

Congress Proposes Crop Insurance that Could Cost the U.S. Billions During Drought (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Most Widespread U.S. Drought in 24 Years (by Matt Bewig, AllGov)