U.S. Drought Monitor (April 8): Drought Expands Across High Plains, Southern Texas

Conditions generally deteriorated across the continental United States for the week ending April 6, with minimal improvements restricted to parts of the Midwest and Southern Plains.

The High Plains was among the worst-affected areas, according to today's Drought Monitor report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

North and South Dakota declared fire emergencies due to ongoing drought conditions and increased wildfire activity.

Other "hot spots," where drought expanded, included portions of Texas and Oklahoma.

And as the wet season winds down in the West, widespread extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought continues across much of the Southwest.

Other places where drought conditions worsened included northeast Illinois, southeast Wisconsin, western New York, and portions of New Hampshire and Vermont.

For the full USDA report for April 8, click here.

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