Start with the same location
Before comparing soil properties, check that the coordinates identify the same point. A different address match can cross a map boundary. If the points differ, the checker labels the comparison as different locations rather than claiming the soil changed over time.
Compare drought within the same county
The timeline contains county-area percentages. A difference between two counties is a difference in regional coverage, not a measured change at one property. For the same county, subtract the earlier published D1-or-worse percentage from the later one and report the difference in percentage points.
Source dates matter more than download dates
Two reports retrieved a day apart may contain the same drought map. They do not represent two different weekly observations. A saved snapshot stays a snapshot; opening it does not refresh the provider data. A stale map remains labeled stale.
Keep your observations in a separate timeline
Record what you saw, where and when. Keep photo filenames and any known changes to the property with the note. A coinciding drought change does not establish the cause of a crack. Use the inspection notebook to prepare a concise brief, not to generate a structural diagnosis.
Sources and interpretation
Explanations and workflow are our own. This is educational screening, not a site investigation or engineering recommendation.