Southwest forecast
Satellite and radar
Active alerts
Conditions now
Airports and blackouts
Cameras
Rain and drought
What do drought levels mean?
The U.S. Drought Monitor classifies drought into five levels, from abnormally dry conditions to exceptional drought. exceptional drought. This scale is updated weekly and serves as a key reference for agriculture, water management and community preparedness for prolonged periods of rainfall failure.
| Level | Name | Color Drought Monitor | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| D0 | Abnormally Dry | Yellow | Onset of drought or short-term effects; delay in crops. |
| D1 | Moderate Drought | Light Orange | Crop and pasture stress; low stream levels. |
| D2 | Severe Drought | Orange | Crop damage; water shortages; local restrictions. |
| D3 | Extreme Drought | Red | Significant loss of crops; generalized lack of water. |
| D4 | Exceptional Drought | Dark Red | Catastrophic crop damage; severe water crisis. |
Severe weather risk
What do the CPS risk levels mean?
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) classifies severe weather risk into five levels. Each indicates the
probability and intensity of phenomena such as tornadoes, hail or strong winds. This scale is updated daily
and helps the population to prepare in advance for hazardous events.
| Level | Name | SPC Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marginal | Green | Isolated thunderstorms, not very intense. |
| 2 | Slight | Yellow | Moderate risk of hail or strong winds. |
| 3 | Enhanced | Orange | More organized and intense storms. |
| 4 | Moderate | Red | High risk: large hail or strong tornadoes possible. |
| 5 | High | Fuccia | Extreme risk of widespread severe events and violent tornadoes. |