Global drought

By the end of February 2015, a preliminary look at drought indicators points to many areas of the earth showing some minor improvement in drought conditions.   While the British Isles showed some drought intensification, most of central and eastern Europe showed some improvement in drought status, particularly in the area around the Black Sea.  In Asia, drought continues to be focused around Mongolia and northern India, despite the vegetation stress in those areas improving this month.  The Thai government has designated additional resources for water projects and emergencies during the drought.  In Africa, drought remains entrenched near the eastern horn, particularly around Kenya and southern Somalia.  Drought conditions near equatorial Africa abated slightly.  In North America, drought continues to be focused on the Southwest and Southern Plains of the U.S.  In South America, conditions over Brazil eased slightly this month.  Coffee prices continue to decline from their drought-induced all time high prices last year.  Flooding rains impacted Sao Paulo, which has been hit hard by drought in the recent months.  Long term improvements are to be determined as reservoirs levels are still low.  In Australia, drought conditions remained relatively constant with some drought intensification in the interior of the continent.  Fire danger continues to be high across New Zealand where water storage continued to fall, particularly on the South Island where drought has been declared.