They're the U.S. Drought Monitor's levels: D0 is abnormally dry, D1 moderate drought, D2 severe, D3 extreme and D4 exceptional, the worst. D2 and worse are the levels that trigger USDA drought programs like LFP.
Our counties this week
| Worst level D4 | 3 of 49 counties |
| Worst level D3 | 14 of 49 counties |
| Worst level D2 | 10 of 49 counties |
| No D2 or worse | 22 of 49 counties |
Counted by the worst level touching any part of the county.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · as of Oct 27, 2026
The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly map made by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with USDA and NOAA. Authors blend rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, vegetation and local reports into one map.
The map comes out on Thursday and shows conditions as of that Tuesday morning, so a map "of Oct 13" is the one released Oct 15.
What the levels usually look like on a ranch:
- D0, abnormally dry: going into or coming out of drought. Short-term dryness slows planting or growth.
- D1, moderate: some damage to pasture and crops, stock ponds dropping.
- D2, severe: pasture and crop losses likely, water shortages, hay getting short. Starts LFP and fast-track disaster designations.
- D3, extreme: major pasture and crop losses, widespread water shortages or restrictions.
- D4, exceptional: widespread losses and water emergencies.
A county is usually split between several levels. Cownty shows the level covering most of the county and the worst level anywhere in it, with the share of the county it covers. USDA programs generally count a county once any part of it reaches the trigger level.
The map is a broad summary, not a reading for your pasture. A good rain can leave your place greener than the map for a while, and the reverse happens too.
Official sources
Rules checked against these pages on Oct 18, 2026. Live numbers update with each data load. Information only: the agency decides. Not affiliated with USDA.