NOAA drought forecasting tool promises clearer short-term outlook

President Obama called for more preparedness for environmental disaster in his recent Climate Action Plan and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration answered with a new drought forecasting tool, according to a NOAA release.

The new NOAA tool predicts drought conditions for the coming month.  It should give government officials and interested citizens alike a better short-term outlook than previous forecasting tools, due to improved climate modeling.

NOAA’s monthly drought predictions will now include indicator labels describing whether a drought will persist, enlarge or dwindle in the coming month.