Interactive Drought Site Unveiled

The government has unveiled a new Web site where you can monitor U.S. drought conditions, get forecasts, and know how drought is impacting the communities. Called the U.S. Drought Portal, the site was developed for the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

"The new portal site provides all the information that managers need in one location, and delivers unprecedented access to key operational drought resources to answer the most pressing questions facing policymakers, emergency planners, businesses and the public," according to a NOAA spokesman. NIDIS is a collaboration between numerous federal agencies and several state governments to provide a dynamic and accessible drought-risk information system. NIDIS was created in response to extended drought conditions over the past decade, with strong advocacy from the Western Governors' Association and other groups. NIDIS, led by NOAA, coordinates use of the U.S. Drought Portal for drought risk assessment and management among its federal, state, tribal and local partners.

The site is at www.drought.gov.