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.
Four states currently have the most widespread drought, covering 100% of their areas. These are South Dakota, 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 New Mexico with the worst droughts as of Dec. 17, 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.
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Emma Rubin // Stacker
1 / 23New Mexico statistics
- Abnormally dry: 24.4%
- Area in drought: 29.1% (#33 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 12.8%
--- Severe drought: 11.1%
--- Extreme drought: 5.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
StockPhotoAstur // Shutterstock
2 / 23McKinley County
- Abnormally dry: 47.7%
- Area in drought: 0.1%
--- Moderate drought: 0.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Valencia County
- Abnormally dry: 99.9%
- Area in drought: 0.1%
--- Moderate drought: 0.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rio Arriba County
- Abnormally dry: 71.0%
- Area in drought: 0.2%
--- Moderate drought: 0.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Sierra County
- Abnormally dry: 75.5%
- Area in drought: 1.3%
--- Moderate drought: 1.3%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cibola County
- Abnormally dry: 45.9%
- Area in drought: 1.3%
--- Moderate drought: 1.3%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
San Miguel County
- Abnormally dry: 8.8%
- Area in drought: 1.4%
--- Moderate drought: 1.4%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Catron County
- Abnormally dry: 76.9%
- Area in drought: 5.8%
--- Moderate drought: 5.8%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lea County
- Abnormally dry: 61.2%
- Area in drought: 35.6%
--- Moderate drought: 21.1%
--- Severe drought: 11.5%
--- Extreme drought: 2.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
turtix // Shutterstock
12 / 23Sandoval County
- Abnormally dry: 59.4%
- Area in drought: 40.6%
--- Moderate drought: 40.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Gestalt Imagery // Shutterstock
13 / 23Lincoln County
- Abnormally dry: 37.9%
- Area in drought: 46.4%
--- Moderate drought: 38.5%
--- Severe drought: 7.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock
14 / 23Chaves County
- Abnormally dry: 8.8%
- Area in drought: 48.5%
--- Moderate drought: 27.6%
--- Severe drought: 20.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Underawesternsky // Shutterstock
15 / 23Grant County
- Abnormally dry: 37.0%
- Area in drought: 63.0%
--- Moderate drought: 44.0%
--- Severe drought: 19.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Jimack // Shutterstock
16 / 23Santa Fe County
- Abnormally dry: 24.9%
- Area in drought: 68.5%
--- Moderate drought: 68.5%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
17 / 23Los Alamos County
- Abnormally dry: 20.9%
- Area in drought: 79.1%
--- Moderate drought: 79.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bernalillo County
- Abnormally dry: 20.8%
- Area in drought: 79.2%
--- Moderate drought: 79.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
19 / 23Otero County
- Abnormally dry: 7.4%
- Area in drought: 83.4%
--- Moderate drought: 14.1%
--- Severe drought: 35.1%
--- Extreme drought: 34.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock
20 / 23Luna County
- Abnormally dry: 14.4%
- Area in drought: 85.6%
--- Moderate drought: 17.5%
--- Severe drought: 35.8%
--- Extreme drought: 32.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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David Langford // Shutterstock
21 / 23Dona Ana County
- Abnormally dry: 4.0%
- Area in drought: 95.1%
--- Moderate drought: 30.1%
--- Severe drought: 33.2%
--- Extreme drought: 31.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hidalgo County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 88.3%
--- Extreme drought: 11.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Eddy County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.2%
--- Severe drought: 61.1%
--- Extreme drought: 30.8%
--- 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.
