Counties with the worst droughts in Indiana
Over a quarter of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
While the West is currently experiencing a brief reprieve from its driest period of the last 1,200 years—other parts of the country, like the Central U.S., are experiencing spells of unusual dryness.
In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems too feel the effects, and shrinking water supplies impact agriculture, hydropower generation, and wildfire risk.
Periods of drought have intensified and become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Scientists predict that even in low emissions scenarios, much of the U.S. will be drier by the end of the century.
Stacker cited data from U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in Indiana with the worst droughts in the week leading up to July 05, 2023. Counties are listed in order of percent of the area in drought conditions. Abnormally dry is not considered to be a drought, but is included as a separate data point. Additional data for the state overall is included. Any counties which are not experiencing drought are not included in the slideshow. All counties experiencing drought conditions are included, listed in order of drought severity.
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Indiana statistics
- Area in drought: 79.5% (#7 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 45.9%
--- Severe drought: 33.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

DeKalb County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.5%
--- Severe drought: 0.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Shelby County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

LaPorte County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 98.9%
--- Severe drought: 1.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Miami County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 97.6%
--- Severe drought: 2.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Johnson County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 95.7%
--- Severe drought: 4.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Noble County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 94.7%
--- Severe drought: 5.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Sullivan County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 85.8%
--- Severe drought: 14.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Fulton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 82.5%
--- Severe drought: 17.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Owen County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 69.4%
--- Severe drought: 30.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Starke County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 67.5%
--- Severe drought: 32.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Morgan County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 52.1%
--- Severe drought: 47.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Madison County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 46.5%
--- Severe drought: 53.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Howard County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 32.4%
--- Severe drought: 67.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Porter County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 21.7%
--- Severe drought: 78.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Cass County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 19.7%
--- Severe drought: 80.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Clay County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 19.5%
--- Severe drought: 80.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Elkhart County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 18.9%
--- Severe drought: 81.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hancock County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 17.2%
--- Severe drought: 82.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Steuben County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.3%
--- Severe drought: 93.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Tipton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 2.5%
--- Severe drought: 97.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marion County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 2.3%
--- Severe drought: 97.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

White County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Warren County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Vigo County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Vermillion County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Tippecanoe County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Putnam County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Pulaski County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Parke County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Newton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Montgomery County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lake County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

LaGrange County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jasper County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Hendricks County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Hamilton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Fountain County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Clinton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Carroll County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Boone County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Benton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%