sere - seer - arrid, dry, withered
Example: "While the Midwest complains about heavy flooding, the lower West Coast complains its weather has become dangerously sere."
As a starter: and as a former teacher in English, I hope to add to reader's vocabulary by presenting a word a day in simple terms that anyone can understand - from current use in publications, radio,TV, etc. Remember: use a new word three times in a day and it's yours forever!