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 Mississippi 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 / 26Mississippi statistics
- Abnormally dry: 30.0%
- Area in drought: 19.1% (#38 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 17.2%
--- Severe drought: 1.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Webster County
- Abnormally dry: 77.9%
- Area in drought: 22.1%
--- Moderate drought: 21.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pontotoc County
- Abnormally dry: 77.3%
- Area in drought: 22.7%
--- Moderate drought: 22.7%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
TLF Images // Shutterstock
4 / 26Bolivar County
- Abnormally dry: 11.3%
- Area in drought: 28.5%
--- Moderate drought: 25.1%
--- Severe drought: 3.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Sunflower County
- Abnormally dry: 37.3%
- Area in drought: 43.9%
--- Moderate drought: 21.6%
--- Severe drought: 22.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Forrest County
- Abnormally dry: 49.8%
- Area in drought: 50.2%
--- Moderate drought: 50.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Stone County
- Abnormally dry: 49.1%
- Area in drought: 50.9%
--- Moderate drought: 48.4%
--- Severe drought: 2.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
9 / 26Quitman County
- Abnormally dry: 20.9%
- Area in drought: 53.9%
--- Moderate drought: 22.2%
--- Severe drought: 31.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lee County
- Abnormally dry: 34.2%
- Area in drought: 59.7%
--- Moderate drought: 56.7%
--- Severe drought: 3.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
12 / 26Calhoun County
- Abnormally dry: 35.5%
- Area in drought: 64.5%
--- Moderate drought: 64.5%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Oktibbeha County
- Abnormally dry: 16.9%
- Area in drought: 83.1%
--- Moderate drought: 69.0%
--- Severe drought: 14.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Yalobusha County
- Abnormally dry: 16.2%
- Area in drought: 83.8%
--- Moderate drought: 83.7%
--- Severe drought: 0.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
15 / 26Itawamba County
- Abnormally dry: 8.3%
- Area in drought: 91.7%
--- Moderate drought: 83.2%
--- Severe drought: 8.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Grenada County
- Abnormally dry: 5.2%
- Area in drought: 94.8%
--- Moderate drought: 85.7%
--- Severe drought: 9.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Jackson County
- Abnormally dry: 4.3%
- Area in drought: 95.7%
--- Moderate drought: 26.9%
--- Severe drought: 68.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lowndes County
- Abnormally dry: 0.1%
- Area in drought: 99.9%
--- Moderate drought: 99.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Chickasaw County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.8%
--- Severe drought: 8.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Monroe County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 72.4%
--- Severe drought: 27.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Clay County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 34.3%
--- Severe drought: 65.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Tallahatchie County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 10.8%
--- Severe drought: 89.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
George County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 3.8%
--- Severe drought: 96.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Greene County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 44.0%
--- Extreme drought: 56.0%
--- 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.
