What the drought panel measures
The U.S. Drought Monitor describes regional drought conditions. We retrieve county-area statistics in traditional, cumulative format. D1 means the percentage of the county in moderate drought or worse; D2 means severe drought or worse. These areas overlap. Do not add D0 through D4 together. D0 is abnormally dry, not a drought category on its own.
Why the timeline is useful
A series of weekly maps can show whether drought coverage has expanded or contracted. We display the map date, not just the date on which a request ran. Where two suitable weeks exist, the four-week change is the difference in D1-or-worse county coverage in percentage points. A rise from 20% to 50% is +30 percentage points, not a 30% increase in risk to a house.
What changes at one property
Regional dryness may be relevant where expansive soils are present, but irrigation, shade, trees, leaks, paved areas and drainage can produce different local moisture conditions. A wet corner and a dry corner of the same home are not represented by one county statistic. This service does not measure soil moisture, foundation displacement or the structural consequences of either.
Make a record rather than a prediction
Compare dated observations from the same locations. Note rainfall or a prolonged dry spell as context, but do not assume it caused a crack. Check gutters and visible drainage from a safe place, and report possible plumbing leaks to a qualified professional. Avoid sudden, blanket watering or excavation prescriptions from an online score. A site-specific moisture plan needs local conditions and professional judgment.
Sources and interpretation
Explanations and workflow are our own. This is educational screening, not a site investigation or engineering recommendation.