七月份罕見的旱災擴及美國48個州，創下美國旱災有史已來的最大範圍。
位於美國內布拉斯加州林肯大學的美國旱災防治中心，其中的官員表示，在這個月中，美國附近將近有12%的區域到達「罕見」的標準，於7月12日有高達11.96%的區域符合罕見旱災標準。
「這個罕見旱災的程度在美國監測旱災的12年歷史中從未見過。」美國旱災防治中心，布拉斯加州林肯大學的助理環境科學家和氣候學家，Brian Fuchs說到。
這場罕見的旱災造成大遍的作物和牧草損失，以及水庫、河流和水井的水源短缺，進而引發水源危機。德州的作物在田中枯萎，而牧草也晒傷損毀。許多的農夫和牧場主人收成減少甚至沒有莊稼可收。自今日中午開始，達拉斯市已經連續31天達到華氏100度甚至更高的的溫度。
在俄克拉荷馬州，這場旱災已摧毀了牧草地，迫使畜牧業者往災情較輕微的地區去尋找牧草，也促使州長Mary Fallin發布行政命令，准許卡車司機可乘載運輸兩倍的牧草量。
州長從美國農業部取得俄克拉荷馬州69個郡縣的災難聲明後，於上週表示：「氣候使得俄克拉荷馬州的農夫今年過得十分艱苦。這項聲明會幫助那些遭受旱災和其他惡劣情況的農民獲得需要的協助。」
同時國家氣象局警告，高溫警報、溫度監測和溫度警報在密西西比河谷、中部以及南部平原仍發布持續有效。
美國的旱災監測利用系統化排序，從D0（異常乾燥）、D1（中度乾旱）、D2（劇烈乾旱）、D3（極端乾旱），一直到D4（罕見乾旱）等不同程度。
上週提出的最新乾旱監測報告指出，美國有59%的地區是免於旱災威脅，但有41%的地區則有部份的異常乾燥或乾旱的問題。而兩個禮拜前，美國則有64%的區域是免於旱災威脅的。
Fuch說到：「目前美國有18%的區域不是處在極端乾旱標準就是在罕見乾旱的標準內。其中大部份都是在南部地區，特別是德州有3/4的地區達罕見旱災的標準。」
其他州至少有85%的地區處於異常乾燥或是旱災範圍內，其中包含：
- 新墨西哥州（全區處於旱災，其中有48%的區域達罕見旱災標準）
- 路易斯安那州 （全區處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有33%的區域達罕見旱災標準）
- 奧克拉荷馬州（全區處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有52%的區域達罕見旱災標準）
- 南卡羅來納州全區有97%處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有16%的區域達極端旱災到罕見旱災的標準）
- 喬治亞州（全區有95%處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有68%的區域達極端旱災到罕見旱災的標準）
- 阿肯色州（全區有96%處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有6%的區域達罕見旱災標準）
- 佛羅里達州（全區有89%處於異常乾燥或是旱災，其中有20%的區域達罕見旱災標準）
Fuchs表示：「在接下來的兩三個禮拜，部份旱災區的災情可望減緩，但原先預計熱帶氣旋Don可為德州帶來雨量的消息則要讓德州人失望了。」
熱帶氣旋Don在週五晚間登陸於Baffin海灣，而在登陸前已迅速減弱。Don只帶來一些陣雨，總計雨量不到一英吋。
德州A&M大學的大氣科學教授，John Nielsen-Gammon氣候學者表示：「德州已經乾旱好一段時間了，這個熱帶氣旋將會為這地區帶來一點水量。」
從二月到六月的這段期間德州平均只有4.26英吋的雨量，是目前紀錄最乾旱的一次。最接近的一次乾旱發生在1917年，當時雨量為6.45英吋。
這波熱浪肆虐美國中部和東部，上個月已打破許多高溫的紀錄。在今年華府（華氏84.5度），奧克拉荷馬州（華氏89.2度）以及德州的Wichita Falls（華氏92.9度）等地區的七月都是有史以來最高溫的一個月。
旱災監測報告結合旱災的數據化測量以及專家對每週地圖的最佳判斷。它是由美國旱災防治中心、美國農業部、美國國家海洋和大氣管理局，與300多位氣候學者、相關代表和國內其他相關人員所共同合作完成的。
每週的地圖是基於下雨、下雪和其他氣象事件，加上研究乾旱如何影響作物、野生動物的觀察人員報告，以及其他判斷跡象所修改製作完成的。
In July, exceptional drought across the Lower 48 states hit the highest levels in the history of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
An official with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says nearly 12 percent of the contiguous United States fell into the "exceptional" classification during the month, peaking at 11.96 percent on July 12.
That level of exceptional drought has never before been seen in the monitor's 12-year history, said Brian Fuchs, UNL assistant geoscientist and climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Exceptional drought brings widespread crop and pasture losses, as well as shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells, creating water emergencies. Across Texas, crops are shriveling in the fields and pastures are burning. Many farmers and ranchers will have little or nothing to harvest. As of this afternoon, Dallas has had 31 consecutive days with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher.
In Oklahoma, the drought has destroyed hay fields, forcing livestock producers to seek hay from less-affected areas and prompting Governor Mary Fallin to issue an executive order allowing truck drivers double their hay loads.
"The weather has made this an extremely tough year for Oklahoma farmers," said Governor Fallin last week, after securing a disaster declaration in 69 Oklahoma counties from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "This declaration will help those who have been hard hit by drought and other bad conditions to get the assistance they need."
Meanwhile, Excessive Heat Warnings, Watches, and Advisories remain in effect across parts of the Mississippi Valley, Central and Southern Plains, warns the National Weather Service.
The U.S. Drought Monitor uses a ranking system that begins at D0 (abnormal dryness) and moves through D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought).
The most recent drought monitor report, released late last week, indicated that 59 percent of the United States was drought-free, while 41 percent faces some form of abnormal dryness or drought.
Two weeks ago, 64 percent of the country was drought-free.
Currently, 18 percent of the country is classified as under either extreme or exceptional drought, Fuchs said. Much of it is in the south, particularly Texas, where the entire state is experiencing drought - three-fourths is considered exceptional.
Other states that are at least 85 percent abnormally dry or in drought include:
- New Mexico (100 percent in drought, 48 percent exceptional)
- Louisiana (100 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 33 percent exceptional)
- Oklahoma (100 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 52 percent exceptional)
- South Carolina (97 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 16 percent extreme to exceptional)
- Georgia (95 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 68 percent extreme to exceptional)
- Arkansas (96 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 6 percent extreme to exceptional)
- Florida (89 percent abnormally dry or in drought, 20 percent extreme to exceptional)In the next two to three weeks, some drought-affected areas may see some improvement, said Fuchs, but Tropical Storm Don, Texans' hope for rainfall on the weekend was disappointing.
Don came ashore near Baffin Bay late Friday, weakened abruptly prior to landfall, Don producing only scattered showers, amounting to less than an inch of rain.
"It's been so dry in Texas for so long, this one storm will be a drop in an empty bucket," said Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University
The period from February through June was by far the driest on record with a Texas-wide average of 4.26 inches of rain. The next driest occurred in 1917 with 6.45 inches.
The heat wave baking the Central and Eastern U.S. last month claimed more records. July was the warmest month ever recorded in Washington, DC (84.5), Oklahoma City (89.2) and Wichita Falls, Texas (92.9).
The drought monitor combines numeric measures of drought and experts' best judgment into a weekly map. It is produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and incorporates review from 300 climatologists, extension agents and others across the nation.
Each week the previous map is revised based on rain, snow and other events, observers' reports of how drought is affecting crops, wildlife and other indicators.
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