Pictures of Drought-Affected Streams

Latest Condition Reports

Streams

Weather - Western North Dakota

Weather - Eastern North Dakota

Agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a drought?

When does a drought begin?

Does a shortage of rain mean a drought will occur?

Where do droughts usually occur?

What can be done to solve water problems during periods of drought?

When has North Dakota experienced droughts?

Map of below normal 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the week of the year The "Below normal streamflow " map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past seven days, highlighting locations that are experiencing low flows or hydrologic drought. By averaging over an entire week, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps. The map depicts 7-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent 7-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical weekly streamflow for the week of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.  During winter months, fewer dots may appear than at other times of the year due to ice effects. The data used to produce this map are provisional and have not been reviewed or edited. They may be subject to significant change. Explanation Below Normal 10th-24th percentile Moderate Hydrologic Drought 6th-9th percentile Severe Hydrologic Drought ≤ 5th percentile Extreme Hydrologic Drought New low Not ranked

For information on drought and water resources throughout the United States, please visit WaterWatch.

Publications

Climatic and hydrologic aspects of the 1988-92 drought and the effect on people and resources of North Dakota - North Dakota State Water Commission Water Resources Investigation 29

 

Drought - U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 93-642

 

Ground-water-level monitoring and the importance of long-term water-level data - U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1217

 

Proposal and work plan to calibrate and verify a water-quality model to simulate effects of wastewater discharges to the Red River of the North at drought streamflow near Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota - U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-190 - Abstract only online

 

Stream-gaging program of the U.S. Geological Survey - U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1123

 

Search publications of the U.S. Geological Survey

 

 

Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year

North Dakota

Montana

South Dakota

Minnesota

 

Conditions across the nation

Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year (United States)

States where average streamflow was below normal during the previous 7 days

Ground Water Climate Response Network

State

Coping with Drought Information for Dealing with Dry Weather - North Dakota State University

 

Region

Western Governors' Association Drought Initiatives

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Climate Prediction Center

Drought Information Center

National Climatic Data Center

North American Drought: A Paleo Perspective - Created by the staff of the NOAA Paleoclimatology Program

 

National Weather Service Forecast Offices

Bismarck | Grand Forks | Glasgow | Billings | Rapid City | Aberdeen | Minneapolis | more...

 

National Weather Service River Forecast Centers

Missouri Basin  |  North Central (including the Red River of the North)

 

Other Agencies

Water Supply Outlook for the Western United States - USDA/NRCS/National Water & Climate Center

 

Drought Management - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water

 

National Drought Mitigation Center - University of Nebraska - Lincoln

 

The Drought Monitor - a comprehensive drought monitoring effort between the USDA, NOAA/Climate Prediction Center, NOAA/National Climate Data Center, and the National Drought Mitigation Center