Latest Monthly Assessment - Since late February, drought expanded and intensified across portions of the Southwest and Southern to Central Great Plains. Broad-scale persistence is forecast throughout the West as chances for any drought improvement begin to diminish. Persistence is also expected for the Great Plains, but recent precipitation during late March supports improving drought for southern Texas. During the first week of April, a widespread swath of heavy precipitation (2 to 8 inches, locally more) is likely from eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas northeastward to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Based on this heavy precipitation, improvement or removal is forecast for small areas of Oklahoma and Texas, the Ozarks, Tennessee Valley, and parts of the Midwest.



To the east of the Appalachians, persistence is forecast across most of the Carolinas and Georgia. The updated April precipitation outlook favors below-normal precipitation for Florida and drought is forecast to either persist or develop across the central to southern Florida Peninsula. Farther to the north along the East Coast, improvement or removal is favored for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. iForecast confidence is low for these areas as it is highly uncertain that enough precipitation occurs the next several weeks for a favorable response to the low streamflows and groundwater. Persistence is more likely closer to the Central Appalachians.



Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are expected to remain drought-free through the end of April. Drought is forecast to persist for the leeward side of the Hawaiian Islands.



Forecaster: Brad Pugh



Next Monthly Drought Outlook issued: April 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT

Monthly Drought Outlook Discussion