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 Oklahoma 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 / 26Oklahoma statistics
- Abnormally dry: 32.1%
- Area in drought: 11.9% (#43 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 10.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Le Flore County
- Abnormally dry: 63.1%
- Area in drought: 5.1%
--- Moderate drought: 5.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pittsburg County
- Abnormally dry: 7.0%
- Area in drought: 6.1%
--- Moderate drought: 6.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rogers County
- Abnormally dry: 49.5%
- Area in drought: 8.2%
--- Moderate drought: 8.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Love County
- Abnormally dry: 77.8%
- Area in drought: 22.2%
--- Moderate drought: 22.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pawnee County
- Abnormally dry: 68.1%
- Area in drought: 22.6%
--- Moderate drought: 22.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Osage County
- Abnormally dry: 47.3%
- Area in drought: 23.6%
--- Moderate drought: 23.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Payne County
- Abnormally dry: 73.9%
- Area in drought: 26.1%
--- Moderate drought: 26.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cherokee County
- Abnormally dry: 24.9%
- Area in drought: 35.9%
--- Moderate drought: 35.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Dee Browning // Shutterstock
11 / 26Adair County
- Abnormally dry: 17.5%
- Area in drought: 38.3%
--- Moderate drought: 38.3%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
RaksyBH // Shutterstock
12 / 26Atoka County
- Abnormally dry: 50.6%
- Area in drought: 47.6%
--- Moderate drought: 47.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Johnston County
- Abnormally dry: 50.9%
- Area in drought: 49.1%
--- Moderate drought: 49.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
McCurtain County
- Abnormally dry: 40.9%
- Area in drought: 59.1%
--- Moderate drought: 59.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Noble County
- Abnormally dry: 26.0%
- Area in drought: 74.0%
--- Moderate drought: 74.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Mohammad Fuad Anshori // Shutterstock
16 / 26Stephens County
- Abnormally dry: 25.1%
- Area in drought: 74.9%
--- Moderate drought: 74.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marshall County
- Abnormally dry: 23.4%
- Area in drought: 76.6%
--- Moderate drought: 76.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kay County
- Abnormally dry: 20.2%
- Area in drought: 79.8%
--- Moderate drought: 55.7%
--- Severe drought: 24.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Craig County
- Abnormally dry: 12.1%
- Area in drought: 87.9%
--- Moderate drought: 87.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock
20 / 26Mayes County
- Abnormally dry: 9.9%
- Area in drought: 90.1%
--- Moderate drought: 90.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Charles Lemar Brown // Shutterstock
21 / 26Jefferson County
- Abnormally dry: 9.3%
- Area in drought: 90.7%
--- Moderate drought: 90.7%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pushmataha County
- Abnormally dry: 1.5%
- Area in drought: 98.5%
--- Moderate drought: 59.2%
--- Severe drought: 39.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Ottawa County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Delaware County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Moab Republic // Shutterstock
25 / 26RaksyBH // Shutterstock
26 / 26Choctaw County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 38.2%
--- Severe drought: 61.8%
--- 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.
