Hot, dry weather has also led to drought development for the lower Mississippi Valley and parts of northern Texas. Improvement is forecast by the end October, but no relief is expected during the latter half of July.

Since the beginning of June, major drought improvement has occurred across the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region. Improvement is likely to continue.

The southwest monsoon that typically peaks during August has started weakly. Most tools on the monthly and seasonal time scales indicate a tilt in the odds for below median rainfall. Therefore, persistence or development is forecast for Arizona and New Mexico. A dry climatology favors drought persistence across western Wyoming, northeast California and Nevada.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Seasonal Drought Outlook (Map)
NOAA’s 30 & 90 Day Temperature & Preciptation Outlook