Map of drought conditions in the United States as of September 1, 2020, showing areas of "severe" and "extreme" drought over the Western United States There were also several areas of "abnormally dry" and "moderate" drought across the Midwest and Northeast United States
Map from the US Drought Monitor showing the growth of "extreme" or "exceptional" drought conditions over much of the Western United States as of June 1, 2021
Map from the US Drought Monitor showing conditions as of October 12, 2021. It showed the reduction of drought in the East. The growth for extreme and exceptional drought conditions, however, happened in the West
In 2021, drought conditions improved in the Northeast. However, they got worse in the Western United States. As of June 2021, "nearly the entire region (97 percent) was facing abnormally dry conditions."[3] Drought conditions also affected large areas of Mexico and Canada.
The drought conditions of 2020 were associated with a very strong La Niña pattern that had developed in the Pacific Ocean.[4] Across several sections of North America, the dry problems extended to 2022.[5]
The 2020–21 drought was described by some as the worst drought in modern history in the Western U.S.[7]
By late spring 2021, dry conditions had expanded to almost the entire state of California and to nearby Nevada.[8]
Midwest
Iowa got widespread rain during September 2020. It improved the dry conditions in the eastern part of the state.[9] However, the western part of the state had severe-to-extreme drought. The conditions lasted past 2020 and well into 2021. By late spring 2021, northeastern, northern and central Iowa were back under dry conditions.[10]
In northeastern Illinois near the Chicago metropolitan area, May 2021 was the driest since 2012.[12] As of June 1, 2021, Chicago had only gotten barely half an inch of rain due to dry conditions in the area.[13]
Northeast
By late August/early September 2020, dry conditions across several parts of the United States had worsened. The New England states and New York were under severe or extreme drought.[14]
The Northeastern United States were out of drought conditions by June 2021.
As of April 2021, Mexico was under one of the most widespread droughts in its history. Almost 85% of the country had drought conditions.[16]
Canada
As of spring 2021, extreme drought threatened the Canadian Prairies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. These areas had gone through an abnormally dry fall and spring.[17]
