Map Shows 'Astonishing' US Drought as Fire Risk Persists in Northeast

An extreme weather chaser recently commented on the "astonishing" amount of drought in the U.S.

Wildfires continued to burn in New Jersey on Wednesday, with red flag warnings advising of critical fire conditions in place across Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. Special weather statements warning of increased fire risk spread even farther, throughout New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

The National Drought Mitigation Center map updates weekly, with the most recent one published last Thursday.

"An astonishing 87% of the continental United States is experiencing abnormally dry or worse drought conditions following one of the driest months in U.S. history," extreme weather chaser Colin McCarthy posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. "Alaska is the ONLY state not experiencing drought conditions."

According to the most recent map, nearly 88 percent of the continental U.S. was considered abnormally dry. Nearly 52 percent of the continental U.S. was in moderate drought or worse.

Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center, told Newsweek that the last time drought to this extent was documented in the U.S. was in the fall of 2022. Nearly 63 percent of the country was in drought that November.

A helicopter drops water over a wildfire in Greenwood Lake, New York, on Wednesday. Nearly 88 percent of the continental U.S. is considered abnormally dry or worse. Bryan R. Smith/Getty

"So it is not rare to see drought like this develop during the fall, but it has been a while since we have seen so much of the country impacted, and it was a coincidence that it too was during the fall into early winter in 2022," Fuchs said.

He continued: "A very warm and dry October over much of the eastern [half] of the country was the direct cause of the rapid and substantial increase in drought. As some areas have seen some relief so far in November, there are still large areas where drought is still intensifying."

More than 56 percent of the Northeast was facing moderate drought or worse amid critical fire conditions.

"Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly," said one red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Albany, New York. "Outdoor burning is not recommended."

Red flag warnings are issued when critical fire conditions occur. Fire conditions are caused by strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures.

The NWS Climate Prediction Center released a seasonal drought outlook in October. According to the map, drought was expected to persist or develop through January for much of the Central and Southern U.S., but drought improvement and removal was expected across the Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast.

An updated seasonal drought outlook through February will be released on November 21, Fuchs said.