Climate of 2008 - August
U.S. Drought Indicators

• the Palmer Z Index, Palmer Drought Severity Index, and Palmer Hydrological Drought Index
  
  
• the one-month, two-month, three-month, six-month, nine-month, 12-month, and 24-month Standardized Precipitation Index
  
  
  
• maps showing the long-term (6-month, 12-month, 24-month, 36-month, 48-month, and 60-month) percent of normal precipitation
  
  
• maps showing the percent of normal precipitation for airport stations for the current month, year-to-date, and last three months
  
  
• the statewide precipitation ranks for current month (short-term) and 3-months, 6-months, and 12 months (longer-term)
  
• the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, 24-month, 36-month, percent of normal precipitation maps, based on Cooperative Network and other station reports, provided by the NOAA Regional Climate Centers (HPRCC)
  
  
• the percent of average precipitation map for the water year to date for the SNOTEL stations in the western mountains provided by the Western Regional Climate Center
  
  
• satellite observations of vegetation health are most effective during the warm season months.
  
  NOAA satellite observations of vegetation health:
  North America:
  Vegetation Health Index - Vegetation Condition Index
  
  VegDRI satellite vegetation health index:
  
  
  
• modeled runoff, evaporation, and soil moisture conditions as calculated by the National Weather Service
  
• modeled soil moisture conditions as calculated by the National Weather Service Leaky Bucket Model:
  
  
• modeled soil moisture conditions in the top and deeper soil layers as calculated by the Midwest Regional Climate Center
  
• short and very short (dry to very dry) topsoil moisture conditions observed by the USDA and mapped by the Climate Prediction Center for the current month and comparison to 5-year and 10-year averages:
  
  
• the percent of pasture and range land in poor or very poor condition, based on observations by the USDA and mapped by the Climate Prediction Center for the current month and compared to a long period mean:
  
  
• the USGS daily streamflow and monthly (28-day: August 6-September 2) mean streamflow maps
  

• For further information, please contact:
  
  
  Climate Services and Monitoring Division
  NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
  151 Patton Avenue
  Asheville, NC 28801-5001
  fax: +1-828-271-4876
  phone: +1-828-271-4800
  email: ncdc.info@noaa.gov
  To request climate data, please E-mail: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov