Why does Drought information differ from USDA drought monitor?
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On the windy app drought monitor it says the areas east of the Connecticut River are either in stage 1 drought, or no drought. NOAA \ USDA data says much of that area is in a stage 3 drought.
This is the NOAA sanctioned site: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx
Why is there so much disparity between Windy and NOAA data?
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@dies2much
This is because the data sources are not identical. The algorithms used to calculate drought intensity differ.
Same as two different weather models do not provide the same forecasts. -
Windy currently uses CzechGlobe 9km model for it's drought monitor, which is an European based model. The USDA drought monitor uses a different modeling, though it only updates weekly as opposed to daily for the CzechGlobe model and also focuses on long term changes over short term changes as well as only one depth. The CzechGlobe model also measures two depths, and three parameters, Drought Intensity, Moisture Anomaly, and Soil Moisture, which can provide a more comprehensive scope of the drought. Of course every model and region has limitations, maybe Windy could introduce the USDA model in the future, though I don't really see a reason why windy needs the USDA monitor, it isn't extremely important, and also one could just go to it's website to find more.
