Overview of drought monitoring and prediction activities at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) housed within NOAA, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) has a long history of drought monitoring and prediction activities to support both domestic and in some cases international interests. An overview of both operational and applied research drought monitoring activities will be presented including details on the history, current approach and methods as well as short and long term plans for the operational preparation and dissemination of the multi-agency U.S. Drought Monitor product. In addition to the drought monitoring forecast tools and official products produced at CPC, a review of both short and longer term drought prediction forecast tools and official operational outlooks will be conveyed including the forecast process, guidance information and future goals for the operational CPC U.S. Monthly and Seasonal Drought Outlooks. This presentation will also describe available verification information and how the U.S. Drought Monitor and U.S. Drought Outlooks can assist various stakeholders and where gaps in usability remain. Moreover, current linkages to drought related stakeholder and/or applied research focused initiatives such as NIDIS and the NOAA Drought Task Force, among others, will be noted.