According to the August 26, 2025 U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), moderate to exceptional drought (D1–D4) covers 27.7% of the United States including Puerto Rico, an increase from 26.0% on the July 29 map. The worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) increased from 4.8% last month to 6.0%.
From July 29 to August 26, the USDM showed that drought and abnormal dryness expanded or intensified across much of the Lower Mississippi Valley, southern Ohio Valley, and Northeast, as well as in parts of the Northwest, the Rockies, and Hawaii. Conversely, drought and abnormal dryness reduced or improved in parts of the Great Plains, New Mexico, the northern Ohio Valley, the Southeast, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
Approximately 75.4 million people are currently living in drought-affected areas, a decrease of about 9.0 million people since the July 29 drought report. As of August 26, abnormal dryness and drought are affecting over 141 million people across the United States including Puerto Rico—about 45.6% of the population.
The full U.S. Drought Monitor weekly update is available from Drought.gov.
In addition to Drought.gov, you can find further information on the current drought on this week’s Drought Monitor update at the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Take a look at the most recent U.S. Drought Outlook. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agriculture Outlook Board also provides information about the drought’s influence on crops and livestock.
For additional drought information, follow #DroughtMonitor on Facebook and X.
