Contents Of This Report:

page delimiter

Click here to go to Top of Page National Overview

On the national scale, severe drought affected about eleven percent of the contiguous United States as of the end of January 2001, reflecting a slight increase from the overall conditions of last month (see graph below left). At its August peak of 36% coverage, the 2000 drought was as extensive as the major droughts of the last 40 years, but not as large as the "dust bowl" droughts of the 1930's and 1950's (see graph below right).

A large part of the western U.S. experienced the third dry month in a row (click here for the Palmer Z Index map for January, December, and November). While short-term conditions were near normal in much of the southern Plains and Deep South, long-term conditions remained quite dry in this region.

Although different parts of the U.S. have experienced unusually wet conditions during the last 12 months, there continues to be little change in the overall national wetness picture. The percentage of the nation severely wet has remained near five percent during this period (see graph below left).

Click here for graphic showing U.S. Drought and Wet Spell Area, 1996-2001
larger image
Click here for graphic showing U.S. Drought and Wet Spell Area, 1900-2001
larger image

page delimiter

Click here to go to Top of Page Palmer Drought Indices

The Palmer Z Index shows how monthly moisture conditions depart from normal (short-term drought and wetness). January 2001 was severely dry in the Pacific Northwest and adjoining areas, in the Northeast, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic states. The animated maps to the right show the geographical pattern of the moisture anomalies for the last 12 months. On these maps, the red shading denotes dry conditions while the green shading indicates wet conditions. Click here for graphic showing U.S. Animated Palmer Z Index maps
larger animated image

Click here for graphic showing U.S. Animated Palmer Drought Index maps
larger animated image
The Palmer Drought Index maps show long-term (cumulative) meteorological drought and wet conditions. Long-term meteorological drought persisted across parts of the Deep South and southern Appalachians, and long-term persistent dryness intensified across parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. The animated maps show how the geographical pattern of the long-term (meteorological) moisture conditions has changed over the last 12 months. On these maps, the red shading denotes drought conditions while the green shading indicates wet conditions.

The Palmer Hydrological Drought Index maps show hydrological (long-term cumulative) drought and wet conditions, which more accurately reflect groundwater conditions, reservoir levels, etc. The PHDI indicates that hydrological drought persisted through the end of January across most of the Southeast and parts of the West, central Plains, and northern Great Lakes. The animated maps to the right show the geographical pattern of the long-term (hydrological) moisture anomalies for the last 12 months. On these maps, the red shading denotes dry conditions while the green shading indicates wet conditions. Click here for graphic showing U.S. Animated Palmer Hydrological Drought Index maps
larger animated image

page delimiter

Click here to go to Top of Page Regional Drought Watch:

Click here to go to Top of Page Standardized Precipitation Index

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is another way of measuring drought. The SPI is an index based on the probability of recording a given amount of precipitation, and the probabilities are standardized so that an index of zero indicates the median precipitation amount (half of the historical precipitation amounts are below the median, and half are above the median). The index is negative for drought, and positive for wet conditions. As the dry or wet conditions become more severe, the index becomes more negative or positive. While the Palmer Drought Index is a water balance index that considers water supply (precipitation), demand (evapotranspiration) and loss (runoff), the SPI is a probability index that considers only precipitation.

The seven maps below show the January 2001 spatial patterns of SPI for seven different periods ranging from one month (short-term conditions) to 24 months (long-term conditions). When taken together, they give a combined geographical and temporal picture of the severity of precipitation anomalies. The maps illustrate, for example:

  • much of the Deep South (except Florida) experienced relief from drought in the short-term (out to three months), but the region still suffers from long-term (nine months and longer) precipitation shortages;
  • the Ohio Valley, northern Plains, and Northeast experienced severe precipitation shortfalls in January and parts of the Northeast have precipitation deficits out to nine months;
  • short-term (out to three months) precipitation shortfalls are evident for the mid-Atlantic states; and
  • parts of the Pacific Northwest and adjoining northern Rockies experienced severe deficits at all time periods out to 24 months.
Click here for graphic showing 1-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 2-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 3-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 6-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 9-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 12-Month SPI Map
larger image
Click here for graphic showing 24-Month SPI Map
larger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Regional Overview

The following table shows the precipitation ranks for the nine standard U.S. regions for January 2001, the three-month period November 2000-January 2001, and the twelve-month period February 2000-January 2001. A rank of 1 is driest and 107 (for January, 106 for the other periods) is wettest.

Region January 2001 Nov 2000-
Jan 2001
Feb 2000-
Jan 2001
Northeast 8 16 72
East North Central 56 71 64
Central 24 27 42
Southeast 17 30 4
West North Central 36 76 48
South 76 99 42
Southwest 74 51 50
Northwest 5 2 4
West 41 9 40

The map to the right shows the departure from normal of the number of days with measureable precipitation for the three-month period, November 2000-January 2001. The short-term dryness in the Northeast, Central, and western regions, as well as in Florida and Hawaii, shows up on this map as significant below-normal (brown) number of precipitation days. Click here for graphic showing Departure from Normal Number of Days with Measureable Precipitation Map, November 2000-January 2001
larger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Deep South Drought

Parts of the U.S. Deep South (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS) experienced welcomed rains this month, however precipitation averaged across the region was still below normal (see graph below left). January 2001 ranked as the 38th driest January in the region's aggregate record. Only two of the last 15 months had regionwide precipitation above normal (see graph below left), giving the 12-month period, February 2000-January 2001, a rank of fourth driest such period on record (see graph below right). The Deep South region has suffered from drought for the last two and a half years, resulting in two consecutive back-to-back dry (fourth and fifth driest) February-January "years" (see graph below right). Across the Southeast region, January 2001 ranked as the 15th driest January on record and February 2000-January 2001 ranked as the fourth driest such 12-month period. South Carolina Forestry officials reported that January 2001 had more wildfire activity than any January in the last 15 years.

Precipitation Ranks for the Deep South, 2000-2001
Period Rank
Feb-Jan 4th driest
Mar-Jan 9th driest
Apr-Jan 8th driest
May-Jan 6th driest
Jun-Jan 15th driest
Jul-Jan 16th driest
Aug-Jan 29th driest
Sep-Jan 50th driest
Oct-Jan 43rd driest
Nov-Jan 67th driest
(40th wettest)
Dec-Jan 21st driest
Jan 38th driest
Click here for graphic showing Deep South Precipitation Anomalies, Jan 1998 - Jan 2001
larger image

Click here for graphic showing Deep South Precipitation, February-January, 1895-96 to 2000-01
larger image

Much of Florida experienced another dry month in January. Only one month out of the last 15 had above-normal precipitation (see graph below), giving the state the driest February-January (see graph below left) and third driest October-January (see graph below right) on record in 2000-2001. Hydrological impacts included reduced streamflow, lake, and groundwater levels, and over 800 wildfires developed in several areas since the first of the year, including one fire in the exposed lake bed of a drastically low Lake Okeechobee. In response to the worst drought conditions since the 1930's, emergency mandatory water-use restrictions continued in many Florida communities.

Click here for graphic showing Florida Statewide Precipitation Anomalies, Jan 1998 - Jan 2001
larger image

Statewide Precipitation Ranks for Florida, 2000-2001
Period Rank
Feb-Jan driest
Mar-Jan 2nd driest
Apr-Jan 3rd driest
May-Jan 2nd driest
Jun-Jan 4th driest
Jul-Jan 7th driest
Aug-Jan 11th driest
Sep-Jan 13th driest
Oct-Jan 3rd driest
Nov-Jan 9th driest
Dec-Jan 12th driest
Jan 15th driest
Click here for graphic showing Florida Statewide Precipitation, February-January, 1895-2001
larger image

Click here for graphic showing Florida Statewide Precipitation, October-January, 1895-2001
larger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Pacific Northwest Dryness

Much of the Pacific Northwest experienced the third dry month in a row in January 2001 (see graph below left). This persistent dryness occurred during the normally wet season and resulted in the fifth driest January, second driest November-January (see graph below right), and fourth driest February-January on record during the 2000-2001 season. Rivers are setting new January records for low flows in some Oregon and Washington valleys, reservoir levels are generally below normal, and mountain snowpack was less than 70% of normal for the end of January in many river basins and near 50% of normal or less in some basins.
Click here for graphic showing Pacific Northwest Region Precipitation Anomalies, January 1998 - January 2001
larger image
Click here for graphic showing Pacific Northwest Region Precipitation, November-January, 1895-2001
larger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Western Region Dryness

Near normal precipitation fell across much of the West region during January (see graph below left). However, the dryness during the first two months of this wet season gave the region the ninth driest November-January on record (see graph below right). Streamflow and statewide snowpack were low in California, but water storage in reservoirs was near normal.
Click here for graphic showing West Region Precipitation Anomalies, January 1998 - January 2001
larger image
Click here for graphic showing West Region Precipitation, November-January, 1895-2001
arger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Northeast U.S. Dryness

Widespread dryness occurred across the Northeast region during January 2001, with the month ranking as the eighth driest January on record. Three of the last four months have had below normal precipitation (see graph to right), but near normal precipitation in December and wet conditions during the first half of 2000 have kept the long-term conditions in balance, with February 2000-January 2001 ranking as the 35th wettest (72nd driest) such 12-month period on record. Click here for graphic showing Northeast Region Precipitation Anomalies, January 1998 - January 2001
larger image


Click here to go to Top of Page Southwest U.S. Conditions

Click here for graphic showing Southwest Region Precipitation Anomalies, January 1998 - January 2001
larger image
Precipitation departures in the U.S. Southwest have varied considerably during the past several months, both over space and time (see graph to left). In Arizona, for example, unusually dry conditions during July, September, and December 2000 were balanced by extremely wet conditions during October to result in a statewide rank of 53rd driest out of 106 for February 2000-January 2001, 75th driest (32nd wettest) for August 2000-January 2001, and 40th driest for November 2000-January 2001.


Click here to go to Top of Page Hawaiian Drought

The Hawaiian Islands have experienced very dry conditions in recent months (see graph to right for Honolulu). All reporting stations had below normal precipitation during January 2001, with three-fourths of them (52 stations) reporting less than 20% of normal for the month. This followed a dry December when most stations reported below normal rainfall. Honolulu had the driest December-January on record in 2000-01 (see graph below left) and the fourth driest February-January (see graph below right). As noted by the National Weather Service office in Honolulu, "the lack of December 2000 and January 2001 rainfall showed that Hawaii was well on its way toward a fourth consecutive cool season with sub-par totals." Click here for graphic showing Honolulu, Hawaii Precipitation Anomalies, January 1998 - January 2001
larger image
Click here for graphic showing Honolulu, Hawaii Precipitation, December-January, 1947-48 to 2000-01
larger image
Click here for graphic showing Honolulu, Hawaii Precipitation, February-January, 1947-48 to 2000-01
larger image

page delimiter

Click here to go to Top of Page Additional Contacts:

Damage due to the drought has been summarized by NOAA and the Office of Global Programs in the Climatological Impacts section of the Climate Information Project. Crop impact information can be found at the USDA NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) and Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin pages. Drought statements by local National Weather Service Offices can be found at the NWS Hydrologic Information Center. Drought threat assessments and other information can be found at NOAA's Drought Information Center. Additional drought information can be found at the National Drought Mitigation Center, the USDA's National Agricultural Library, and the NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. The following states have set up web pages detailing their drought emergencies:
Florida Panhandle - Georgia - Hawaii - Kentucky - Montana - Nebraska
New Mexico - North Carolina - Oklahoma - South Carolina - Texas

For additional information on the 2000 wildfire season please see the National Interagency Fire Center web site or the U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation web site.

Additional climate monitoring graphics can be found at the Climate Prediction Center's monitoring pages:


Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Drought Report for January 2001, published online February 2001, retrieved on March 19, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/200101.