Latest Monthly Assessment - During the past 4 weeks, periodic heavy precipitation across the Pacific West, Intermountain West and Rockies brought 1 to 2 class drought amelioration. An extreme precipitation activity also brought widespread flooding to Kentucky and portions of the Tennessee Valley and central Appalachians and resulted in some drought reduction (1 to 3 class improvement) in the regions and northeastward into many parts of Virginia. However, widespread precipitation deficits were observed across many parts of the lower 48 states. A 1 to 2 class drought degradations were seen in many parts of the Midwest and Southeast, with the largest expansion of drought occurring across the Great Basin, Four Corners states and northwestern Southern Region due to below normal precipitation coupled with generally above normal temperatures. With La Niña conditions continue to be favored in the March period, the CPC monthly outlooks favor a canonical La Niña response pattern, with drier and warmer conditions across parts of the southern tier of the CONUS, a winter storm track favoring for the Great Lakes, Tennessee-Ohio Valleys, and interior New England, and an enhanced wet month for the Northwest. Therefore, drought reduction is favored across parts of the Northwest, Midwest, Tennessee Valley and Northeast. Across the southern tier, drought persistence is favored across the existing drought over much of the Southwest with expansion is expected for portions of Arizona, New Mexico, southwestern Texas, and the Southeast.



Below normal snowpack is a concern across the southern tier of Alaska for the spring time melting. However, no drought conditions are currently present or favored to develop across Alaska for March. During the past few weeks the existing drought and abnormal dry conditions were quickly improved across much of the Hawaii Islands. March is a climatological wet season for the Islands with the La Niña conditions typically favoring enhanced rainfall across the region, but drought reduction is only likely for parts of northern islands with forecast enhanced trades for March. No drought conditions are currently present or favored to develop across Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.



Forecaster: Yun Fan



Next Monthly Drought Outlook issued: March 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT

Monthly Drought Outlook Discussion