According to the latest drought report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about 33 percent of the U.S. ranged from moderate to extreme drought conditions. Since the beginning of the year, cases of severe, extreme and exceptional drought have increased in the Western and Southern parts of the United States.

Extreme conditions have emerged in southern Arizona beginning in February, spreading along with creeping exceptional drought conditions into parts of southern Utah, northern New Mexico,Unique Watches the southern tip of California and southwest Colorado. The Colorado State Forest Service began to advise homeowners to water their trees more than they might normally in the early months of 2018 in preparation for expected dryness in the area.

While drought conditions have become more mild in northern Texas since the early months of 2018, with ranges of abnormal dryness and moderate to severe drought, there is an increase in extreme and exceptional drought in the panhandle. These changes began to make appearances in early May into mid-June. The Drought Impact Reporter from the National Drought Mitigation Center through the University of Nebraska notes that the drought is affecting livestock and crops in this area.