While many parts of central Europe are fighting floods unseen for more than a century, many parts of the U.S. are experiencing extreme to exceptional drought. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Wednesday that nearly half of the United States is now experiencing a drought. Hardest hit areas are the Rocky Mountain states and the Southeast U.S., where drought conditions are rated as extreme and even exceptional. Crop failure and more wildfires are expected unless substantial precipitation arrive soon.