National Current Conditions...

September 3, 2025 - September 9, 2025

Conditions worsened in every region in the eastern half of the U.S., including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South/Southeast, and Midwest. However, there were a few exceptions (e.g., eastern Kentucky). 
As of September 9, 2025, 30.11% of the U.S. and Puerto Rico and 35.90% of the lower 48 states are in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

 

This Week's Drought Summary…

Abnormal dryness (D0) and short-term moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought continued to expand across the Lower to Middle Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians, Northeast, and Southeast. However, heavy precipitation (2 inches or more) resulted in a 1-category improvement to central and eastern portions of Kentucky and Tennessee. Enhanced moisture, associated with Hurricane Lorena in the East Pacific, led to locally heavy precipitation and drought improvements to parts of the Desert Southwest. Following a relatively wet week for this time of year, minor improvements were made to parts of Oregon. Elsewhere, little to no changes were warranted for the Pacific Northwest and California. A strong cold front for early September triggered heavy precipitation and drought improvements across New Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Much of the Central to Northern Great Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley remained drought-free. 7-day temperatures (September 2-8) averaged below-normal across most of the central and eastern U.S. with above-normal temperatures limited to the Pacific Northwest, Northern Intermountain West, Great Basin, and California. Widespread drought of varying intensity continued for Hawaii, while Alaska and Puerto Rico remained drought-free.

 

Looking Ahead...

The drier pattern is likely to persist across much of the eastern and central U.S. through September 15. Along with the continued dryness dating back to August, a transition to warmer-than-normal temperatures is underway throughout the central U.S. and summerlike heat is forecast to expand east across the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. From September 13 to 15, maximum temperatures are expected to reach the upper 90s to near 100 degrees F from St Louis south to Memphis. Another week of heavy rainfall is forecast to affect the southern third of the Florida Peninsula and portions of New Mexico. Showers and thundershowers will shift eastward from Oregon and the Northern Intermountain West to the Northern Great Plains.
The 6-10 day outlook (valid September 16-20, 2025) favors above-normal temperatures for the nearly the entire lower 48 states, southeastern Alaska, and Hawaii. The largest above-normal temperature probabilities (70-80 percent) are forecast across the Mississippi Valley. The outlook leans towards the drier side across most of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and Lower Mississippi Valley. Above-normal precipitation is more likely for the Upper Mississippi Valley, Northern to Central Great Plains, Rockies, and Southwest. The outlook also favors above-normal precipitation for most of Alaska and Hawaii.