As of mid-February 2025, the United States is experiencing notable drought conditions affecting groundwater and soil moisture levels, particularly in the Southwest and parts of the Midwest.
Current Drought Conditions
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of February 11, 2025, approximately 46.63% of the contiguous United States is experiencing drought. This represents an increase of 2.8% from the previous week and 18.4% over the past month. Notably, the Southwest has seen worsening conditions for the fifth consecutive week, with parts of the Northwest, Midwest, and Southern Plains also experiencing degradation.
Regional Impacts
Southwest: The region continues to face deteriorating conditions, with many mountainous areas in the Four Corners region reporting abnormally low snowpack levels, which are critical for replenishing groundwater supplies.
Midwest: In Indiana, “abnormally dry” conditions have expanded to cover the northern three-quarters of the state. Soil moisture levels are below normal statewide, with significant deficits in snowpack across all basins.
Texas: Central Texas is experiencing ongoing drought, prompting utilities to adopt aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems. This strategy involves injecting water into underground aquifers during periods of abundance for use during droughts, effectively safeguarding water from evaporation and ensuring availability during dry spells.
Soil Moisture and Hydrologic Indicators
The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Water and Climate Update from February 13, 2025, indicates that soil moisture levels are well below normal across several regions. Snowpack is also below average for this time of year, exacerbating concerns about water availability as snowmelt is a vital source for both surface and groundwater recharge.
Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center’s Monthly Drought Outlook suggests that drought conditions are likely to persist or even expand across portions of Arizona, New Mexico, southern and western Texas, and the Southeast. This projection is based on anticipated warmer and drier than average conditions in these areas.
In summary, the United States is currently facing significant drought challenges, with critical impacts on groundwater and soil moisture levels, especially in the Southwest and Midwest. Proactive water management strategies, such as ASR systems, are being implemented in some regions to mitigate these effects.
Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA_Groundwater_and_Soil_moisture_Drought_Map.jpg
| Description | English: The map uses an 11-point scale where blue measures wetter than normal conditions and yellow/red drier than normal conditions |
| Date | 29 November 2011 |
| Source | https://climate.nasa.gov/news/632/nasas-grace-helps-monitor-us-drought/ |
| Author | NASA |
