• the Palmer Indices and Standardized Precipitation Index,
• the runoff and soil moisture conditions as calculated by the National Weather Service,
• the percent of normal precipitation maps for November and autumn (September-November),

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• the percent of average precipitation map for the hydrologic year thus far (October 1-December 6, 2001), and the percent of average basin snow water content map for early December, for the SNOTEL stations in the western mountains provided by the USDA Water and Climate Center,
• maps showing the departure from normal of the number of days with precipitation for November and autumn (September-November) and the longest consecutive number of days with no precipitation for November and autumn,

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• the statewide precipitation ranks for November (short-term) and September-November, June-November, and December 2000-November 2001 (longer-term), and
• the USGS November daily streamflow maps.

• NOAA satellite observations of vegetation health from December 2 reveal continued stress on vegetation in parts of the southwestern U.S., including western Texas.
• The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is used by the National Interagency Fire Center to monitor the risk of wildfires. The early December KBDI showed dry conditions over the Southeast from the Gulf Coast to mid-Atlantic states, and over parts of the southwestern states and southern Plains. The Forest Service fire danger analysis indicated a continuing risk of wildfires in the Southwest at the beginning of December.

• Declared drought emergencies continued in three western states (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho).
• As a consequence of the 2000-2001 drought, Idaho managers depleted the state's water reserves held in dams.
• The drought in Montana has had serious effects, including reduced agricultural production to low reservoirs, record or near-record low streamflows, and many long-term wells going dry.
• Heavy November rains brought short-term relief to western Texas, however severe long-term moisture deficits persisted.

• According to the USGS in Baltimore, Maryland, low rainfall and warm temperatures in November contributed to record low streamflow and ground-water levels. Streamflow into the Chesapeake Bay was the lowest for November since records began in 1937, and just below the previous record set in 1964.
• Record or near-record low streamflows and groundwater in Maine have raised the concerns of power companies, water utilities, and homeowners with shallow wells. In 2001, Maine has had a record driest
  • May-November,
  • January-November, and
  • December-November
• By early December, Upper Delaware Basin reservoir storage declined to drought levels, automatically triggering additional reductions in Delaware River flow targets and water diversions to New York City and New Jersey. An emergency hearing was scheduled for mid-December.

• 18th driest November.
• Sixth driest October-November.
• 19th driest December-November.
• Dry conditions and abundant fuel in the form of fallen leaves set the stage by mid-November for the worst wildfire season in a decade in the Appalachian mountain region. Many wells and crops in rural areas dried up, and a number of states banned all outdoor burning.

For additional information on the 2001 wildfire season please see the National Interagency Fire Center web site or the U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation web site.

NCDC's Drought Recovery Page shows the precipitation required to end or ameliorate droughts and the probability of receiving the required precipitation.

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

• Weekly, Monthly, 3-Month, 12-Month Monitoring
• El Nino, Drought, Snow Cover, and Degree Day Monitoring
• Weekly Drought Monitoring
• Soil Moisture Monitoring