Southern Plains Drought and Heat Webinar Scheduled

NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) are hosting two webinars on July 21 in collaboration with their Federal, Tribal, State, and local partners.

3-4:45pm ET/2-3:45pm CT/1-2:45pm MT/12-1:45pm PT

The webinars will provide the latest information on current drought, heat, and fire conditions and forecasts, as well as the serious impacts to diverse sectors of the economy and communities throughout the West and Southern Plains. Perspectives from those on the ground who are responding to these worsening drought and heat conditions will be shared.

Nearly 70% of the Western U.S. and Southern Plains are in drought, according to the July 5 U.S. Drought Monitor. But that 70% only tells a portion of the story.

Most of the western U.S., including Southern Montana to northern Mexico and from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, is experiencing the region’s driest megadrought in at least 1,200 years. ​​One of the key drivers intensifying this megadrought is climate change, as warmer temperatures are increasing evaporative demand and drying out soil and vegetation. Impacts are severe. Lakes Powell and Mead, along with the Great Salt Lake, are at record low levels; parts of California are facing unprecedented water restrictions; and New Mexico is currently dealing with the two largest wildfires in state history. As temperatures continue to rise over time, impacts are likely to worsen.

Drought has rapidly expanded over the past 9+ months to cover a significant portion of the Southern Plains. This is particularly evident in Texas where dryness and record-setting heat have led to the worst drought conditions since 2012, with major impacts to agriculture.

Please join us on Thursday, July 21, 2022 for 2 webinars on the Western (Southwest, California, the Pacific Northwest, the Missouri River Basin, and Alaska) and Southern Plains (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) droughts.

For more information, please contact adam.lang@noaa.gov.