D2 – Severe Drought

• Grazing land is inadequate
• Fire season is longer, with high burn intensity, dry fuels, and large fire spatial extent
• Trees are stressed; plants increase reproductive mechanisms; wildlife diseases increase

D3 – Extreme Drought

• Livestock need expensive supplemental feed; cattle and horses are sold; little pasture remains; fruit trees bud early; producers begin irrigating in the winter
• Fire season lasts year-round; fires occur in typically wet parts of state; burn bans are implemented
• Water is inadequate for agriculture, wildlife, and urban needs; reservoirs are extremely low; hydropower is restricted

D4 – Exceptional Drought

• Fields are left fallow; orchards are removed; vegetable yields are low; honey harvest is small
• Fire season is very costly; number of fires and area burned are extensive
• Fish rescue and relocation begins; pine beetle infestation occurs; forest mortality is high; wetlands dry up; survival of native plants and animals is low; fewer wildflowers bloom; wildlife death is widespread; algae blooms appear

Found at :https://www.drought.gov/topics/snow-drought