Counties with the worst droughts in Indiana
Nearly half of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Storms during this past winter brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020 to 2022. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue.
Six states currently have the most widespread drought, covering 100% of their areas. These are Maryland, South Dakota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware.
In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems are also affected as shrinking water supplies impact agriculture and hydropower generation while increasing wildfire risk. Across New England, ongoing drought has shrunk reservoirs and water supplies in the region.
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 the U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in Indiana with the worst droughts as of Nov. 19, 2024. 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 also included. Any counties not experiencing drought are not included in the list. Counties are listed in order of drought severity.
Indiana statistics
- Area in drought: 48.7% (#24 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 23.2%
--- Severe drought: 25.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Vermillion County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Montgomery County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Saint Joseph County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.8%
--- Severe drought: 0.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Newton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.5%
--- Severe drought: 0.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fountain County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 97.1%
--- Severe drought: 2.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Howard County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 89.3%
--- Severe drought: 10.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Starke County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 87.1%
--- Severe drought: 12.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Jay County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 77.1%
--- Severe drought: 22.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Jasper County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 76.0%
--- Severe drought: 24.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Tipton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 66.5%
--- Severe drought: 33.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Warren County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 65.2%
--- Severe drought: 34.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Clinton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 65.0%
--- Severe drought: 35.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Elkhart County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 52.6%
--- Severe drought: 47.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
LaGrange County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 38.7%
--- Severe drought: 61.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Benton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 36.0%
--- Severe drought: 64.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Steuben County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 31.0%
--- Severe drought: 69.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marshall County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 28.8%
--- Severe drought: 71.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Tippecanoe County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 16.8%
--- Severe drought: 83.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pulaski County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 16.6%
--- Severe drought: 83.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Miami County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 16.2%
--- Severe drought: 83.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Blackford County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 10.3%
--- Severe drought: 89.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Grant County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 4.6%
--- Severe drought: 95.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cass County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.5%
--- Severe drought: 99.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Carroll County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.3%
--- Severe drought: 99.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Whitley County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- 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%
Wells County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wabash County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Noble County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kosciusko County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Huntington County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fulton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
DeKalb County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Allen County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Adams County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.