DROUGHT

More than 2/3 of the US experienced drought throughout the summer of 2012, much of it classified as “severe to extreme.”

The percentage area of the U.S. experiencing top-10% drought conditions was 36%, which was second only to the summer of 1934 (57%).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared a federal disaster area in more than half of all the counties in the U.S., mostly caused by drought. It was the largest disaster declaration ever made by the USDA.

The nation could face costs of up to $77 billion due to the 2012 drought, making it the 3rd costliest weather-related disaster since 1980, behind Hurricane Katrina and the drought of 1988.

July 2012 ranked 4th for the greatest percent area of the contiguous U.S. covered by moderate or greater drought and was the worst drought since 1954. Drought records go back to 1895.