The U.S. Drought Monitor for April 7, 2026, shows a nation divided by precipitation, with significant improvements in some regions countered by intensifying drought in others.
Widespread rainfall led to drought removal across the Midwest and brought targeted improvements to parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Drought expanded and intensified across the West, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic, with exceptional drought growing in Georgia and Florida.
Western snowpack remains critically low. March 2026 was the warmest March on record for the contiguous U.S., and the January-March period was the driest on record.
Hawaii saw dramatic improvement from historic rains, while conditions were mixed across the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. The forecast indicates a continuation of dry conditions for the Southeast and above-normal temperatures for most of the country, underscoring persistent climate challenges.