I don’t have live access to current news right now, but I can summarize how to find the latest drought monitor updates and what to expect from them.
Direct answer
- The latest drought monitor updates are typically published weekly on Thursdays by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) collaboration of NDMC/UNL, NOAA, and USDA. The maps show drought intensity across the U.S. with categories D0 (abnormally dry) through D4 (exceptional drought).[2][6]
- For real-time data, forecasts, and historical context, you can visit Drought.gov and the USDM current map page, which include accompanying statistics, time-series graphs, and regional briefs.[5][6]
Key sources to check for the most recent information
- U.S. Drought Monitor current map and regional details: Current Map / Current Map page.[6][7]
- Drought.gov for real-time data, forecasts, and planning tools: Drought.gov homepage and forecasts section.[9][5]
- National Weather Service drought monitoring and weekly updates: NWS drought pages, including the weekly update timing (Thursday mornings) and regional summaries.[4][8]
- USDA Climate Hubs overview of the USDM and its role in agriculture and eligibility for drought aid: USDM page on USDA Climate Hubs.[2]
What to look for this week
- A Thursday release date for the current drought map, with any shifts in drought categories (D0–D4) and newly highlighted areas.
- Any accompanying time-series graphs or statistics that show trends over the past month or season.
- Regional briefs noting impacts on agriculture, water resources, and potential eligibility for drought assistance programs.
Would you like me to pull the very latest map and summarize the key changes for your area (Buffalo, NY, or nearby regions in the Northeast)? I can guide you to the exact sections on Drought.gov and USDM pages or pull the latest localized notes if you want. A citation will accompany each key point.
Sources
These new enhancements to the U.S. Drought Monitor are supported by the Drought Risk Management Research Center, a partnership between the drought center and the National Integrated Drought Information System. The new products enable 121 WFOs and 12 RFCs covered by the U.S. Drought Monitor to show people exactly how drought affects their area. Accompanying statistics and time series graphs, available for some time now, help round out the picture. … The National Drought Mitigation Center at the...
drought.unl.eduSince the valid periods for the drought outlooks overlap, forecast categorical inconsistencies may result between the two products, which can lead to conflicting messaging and cause confusion. In order to address this issue, the CPC will adjust the SDO at the end of each month immediately following the release of the MDO. This adjustment has the goal of eliminating inconsistencies between the drought outlooks to provide consistent outlook maps and a consistent message to end users.
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.govDrought, Eastern North Carolina
www.weather.govThe National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Wilmington, NC provides official weather forecasts, warnings, observations, past weather, and general weather information for Southeast North Carolina and Northeast South Carolina.
www.weather.govOver the next five days (May 19–23, 2026), the United States can expect a highly dynamic weather pattern characterized by contrasting temperature extremes and widespread storm activity. An early-season heat wave will make headlines across much of the Eastern U.S. through mid-week, with interior portions of the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas seeing highs climb into the lower to middle 90s—warm enough to potentially establish new daily records before a cold front brings cooler relief by...
www.drought.govStay informed with real-time drought data, forecasts, and planning tools at Drought.gov - your resource for understanding and preparing for droughts nationwide.
www.drought.govThe U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought. The map uses five classifications: abnormally dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought: moderate (D1), severe (D2), extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4). It is produced jointly by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),...
www.climatehubs.usda.gov