Water School

Every year since 1999, the U.S. Drought Monitor has created maps that include levels of dryness and drought severity.

These maps note different classes of drought severity by colors.

The drought levels include:

• Yellow - D0, abnormally dry
  • Impacts going into drought - short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures
  • Impacts of coming out of drought - some lingering water deficits and pastures or crops not fully recovering
     
• Light Orange – D1, moderate drought
  • Impacts include:
    • Some damage to crops, pastures
    • Streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent
    • Voluntary water-use restrictions requested
       
• Dark Orange – D2, severe drought
  • Impacts include:
    • Crop or pasture losses are likely
    • Water shortages common
    • Water restrictions imposed
       
• Red – D3, extreme drought
  • Impacts include:
    • Major crop/pasture losses
    • Widespread water shortages or restrictions
       
• Maroon - D4, exceptionally dry
  • Impacts include:
    • Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses
    • Shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies

These maps are used, in particular, by the Brazos River Authority to help determine and assess the drought conditions within the Brazos River basin. They also help determine when, or if, part of a drought contingency plan should be implemented.

Drought classifications and other drought data are tools often used to understand droughts' economic, environmental and social impacts.

Historically, the higher the classification of a drought, the worse the long-term impact it has on an area's environment, people and economy.'

For more information on drought classification and severity, view the video below.

Sources:

• Drought Classifications (weather.gov)
• Drought Impacts | Drought.gov
• Texas | Drought.gov
• TSHA | Droughts (tshaonline.org)
• Drought Resources (texasagriculture.gov)
• A History of Drought and Extreme Weather in Texas | StateImpact Texas (npr.org) 

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