Persistent heat and insufficient monsoon rainfall have sustained exceptional drought (D4) conditions across portions of the Intermountain West and central Great Plains as of the August 18, 2026 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with D4 areas concentrated in western Nebraska, parts of Colorado, northeastern Oregon, and far southern Idaho amid record July temperatures and depleted soil moisture, streamflows, and reservoirs. Recent heavy rainfall improved conditions in the Midwest and central Plains, while dryness worsened in the Southern Plains and northern Great Plains. The next USDM update, scheduled for release around August 27 with data valid through the week of August 25, will incorporate the latest precipitation, temperature, and vegetation observations from NOAA, USDA, and NASA partners to determine any shifts in D4 extent or state-level designations. Traders should monitor short-term forecast divergence and multi-week precipitation deficits for potential degradation or relief.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · UpdatedExceptional drought (D4) by state — week of August 25, 2026

Alabama
50%

Arizona
50%

Arkansas
50%

California
50%

Colorado
50%

Delaware
50%

Florida
50%

Georgia
50%

Idaho
50%

Illinois
50%

Indiana
50%

Iowa
50%

Kansas
50%

Kentucky
50%

Louisiana
50%

Maryland
50%

Minnesota
50%

Mississippi
50%

Missouri
50%

Montana
50%

Nebraska
78%

Nevada
50%

New Jersey
50%

New Mexico
52%

North Carolina
50%

North Dakota
50%

Ohio
50%

Oklahoma
50%

Oregon
50%

Pennsylvania
50%

South Carolina
50%

South Dakota
50%

Tennessee
50%

Texas
51%

Utah
52%

Virginia
40%

Washington
50%

West Virginia
50%

Wisconsin
50%

Wyoming
51%
$1,395 Vol.

Alabama
50%

Arizona
50%

Arkansas
50%

California
50%

Colorado
50%

Delaware
50%

Florida
50%

Georgia
50%

Idaho
50%

Illinois
50%

Indiana
50%

Iowa
50%

Kansas
50%

Kentucky
50%

Louisiana
50%

Maryland
50%

Minnesota
50%

Mississippi
50%

Missouri
50%

Montana
50%

Nebraska
78%

Nevada
50%

New Jersey
50%

New Mexico
52%

North Carolina
50%

North Dakota
50%

Ohio
50%

Oklahoma
50%

Oregon
50%

Pennsylvania
50%

South Carolina
50%

South Dakota
50%

Tennessee
50%

Texas
51%

Utah
52%

Virginia
40%

Washington
50%

West Virginia
50%

Wisconsin
50%

Wyoming
51%
D4 area below 0.05% is treated as cartographic noise at state borders and resolves "No".
New Mexico carries a market in every month of the year, so this market exists for the week valid August 25, 2026. Weeks outside that window have no New Mexico market and make no claim about New Mexico's drought.
Each USDM release covers the seven-day period ending Tuesday at 8:00 AM ET and is published the following Thursday.
Resolution is based on the first published US Drought Monitor release for the listed week. Subsequent revisions will not be considered; the first published release is final.
The resolution source for this market is the US Drought Monitor at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Market Opened: Aug 20, 2026, 9:00 AM ET
Resolution Source
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DmData/DataTables.aspxResolver
0x65070BE91...D4 area below 0.05% is treated as cartographic noise at state borders and resolves "No".
New Mexico carries a market in every month of the year, so this market exists for the week valid August 25, 2026. Weeks outside that window have no New Mexico market and make no claim about New Mexico's drought.
Each USDM release covers the seven-day period ending Tuesday at 8:00 AM ET and is published the following Thursday.
Resolution is based on the first published US Drought Monitor release for the listed week. Subsequent revisions will not be considered; the first published release is final.
The resolution source for this market is the US Drought Monitor at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Resolution Source
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DmData/DataTables.aspxResolver
0x65070BE91...Persistent heat and insufficient monsoon rainfall have sustained exceptional drought (D4) conditions across portions of the Intermountain West and central Great Plains as of the August 18, 2026 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with D4 areas concentrated in western Nebraska, parts of Colorado, northeastern Oregon, and far southern Idaho amid record July temperatures and depleted soil moisture, streamflows, and reservoirs. Recent heavy rainfall improved conditions in the Midwest and central Plains, while dryness worsened in the Southern Plains and northern Great Plains. The next USDM update, scheduled for release around August 27 with data valid through the week of August 25, will incorporate the latest precipitation, temperature, and vegetation observations from NOAA, USDA, and NASA partners to determine any shifts in D4 extent or state-level designations. Traders should monitor short-term forecast divergence and multi-week precipitation deficits for potential degradation or relief.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · Updated
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