Depicting drought intensity across the western U.S., this map is one of several cartographic products supplementing National Geographic Magazine's feature article "When the Snows Fail" (October 2014). The U.S. Drought Monitor provides a weekly update of regional drought condition geospatial data, therefore this map was continuously updated before being sent to the printer. While my participation was minimal in the major cartographic undertaking for this story, I am still honored to have worked with the team. I highly suggest purchasing a physical magazine to view the pièce de résistance: a fold-out graphic depicting California's complex water story, but the interactive graphic is a nice alternative.

Credit: Kelsey Nowakowski, NGM staff; Jamie Hawk. Source: National Drought Mitigation Center.