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National Hydrologic Outlook

Soil Moisture

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Palmer Drought Severity Index

Developed to measure long-term (months) soil moisture variations


Crop Moisture Index

Monitors shorter-term (days) soil moisture variations (top 5 feet)


Soil Moisture Monitoring and Prediction

Experimental project conducted by the NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Prediction Center


Soil Moisture and Outlook for U.S.

Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies initial model  conditions and predicted 14-day change in soil moisture


Keetch-Byram Drought Index

Used by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to monitor wildfire conditions

Please note: Soil moisture indices may be misleading in winter because they may not adequately
account for frozen precipitation, snow on the ground or frozen ground.