Counties with the worst droughts in Nebraska

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 Nebraska 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.

Emma Rubin // Stacker

1 / 69

Nebraska statistics

- Abnormally dry: 10.1%
- Area in drought: 83.8% (#8 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 39.7%
--- Severe drought: 37.2%
--- Extreme drought: 6.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

melissamn // Shutterstock

2 / 69

York 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%

Canva

3 / 69

Webster 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%

Ruth McNeill Photography // Shutterstock

4 / 69

Washington 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%

Canva

5 / 69

Thayer 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%

Canva

6 / 69

Seward 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%

culturalrelic // Shutterstock

7 / 69

Saunders 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%

Canva

8 / 69

Sarpy 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%

Canva

9 / 69

Saline 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%

Canva

10 / 69

Pawnee 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%

Alexander Lukatskiy // Shutterstock

11 / 69

Otoe 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%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

12 / 69

Nuckolls 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%

Katherine Welles // Shutterstock

13 / 69

Lancaster 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%

Canva

14 / 69

Johnson 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%

Canva

15 / 69

Jefferson 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%

Canva

16 / 69

Howard 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%

Canva

17 / 69

Hamilton 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%

Canva

18 / 69

Hall 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%

Canva

19 / 69

Greeley 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%

Canva

20 / 69

Gage 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%

Canva

21 / 69

Fillmore 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%

Canva

22 / 69

Douglas 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%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

23 / 69

Dodge 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%

Canva

24 / 69

Clay 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%

Canva

25 / 69

Cass 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%

Canva

26 / 69

Adams 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%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

27 / 69

Wayne County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 95.4%
--- Severe drought: 4.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

28 / 69

Sherman County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 95.4%
--- Severe drought: 4.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Andrew B Hall // Shutterstock

29 / 69

Burt County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 88.5%
--- Severe drought: 11.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

30 / 69

Butler County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 83.6%
--- Severe drought: 16.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

31 / 69

Merrick County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 77.9%
--- Severe drought: 22.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

32 / 69

Valley County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 77.2%
--- Severe drought: 22.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

James Taivalkoski // Shutterstock

33 / 69

Cuming County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 68.1%
--- Severe drought: 31.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

34 / 69

Morrill County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 63.3%
--- Severe drought: 36.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

35 / 69

Polk County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 59.7%
--- Severe drought: 40.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

36 / 69

Nance County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 48.4%
--- Severe drought: 51.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Morgan Ritz // Shutterstock

37 / 69

Wheeler County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 44.3%
--- Severe drought: 55.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

38 / 69

Boone County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 41.2%
--- Severe drought: 58.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

39 / 69

Garfield County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 41.0%
--- Severe drought: 59.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

40 / 69

Colfax County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 35.7%
--- Severe drought: 64.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

41 / 69

Thurston County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 7.9%
--- Severe drought: 92.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

42 / 69

Custer County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 3.7%
--- Severe drought: 96.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

marekuliasz // Shutterstock

43 / 69

Thomas County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

44 / 69

Rock County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

45 / 69

Platte County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

46 / 69

Loup County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

47 / 69

Logan County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

48 / 69

Keya Paha County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

49 / 69

Hooker County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

marekuliasz // Shutterstock

50 / 69

Grant County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Tudoran Andrei // Shutterstock

51 / 69

Dakota County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

52 / 69

Brown County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

53 / 69

Boyd County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

marekuliasz // Shutterstock

54 / 69

Blaine County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Cammie Czuchnicki // Shutterstock

55 / 69

Banner County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 81.9%
--- Severe drought: 17.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

56 / 69

Holt County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 99.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

57 / 69

Cherry County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 98.1%
--- Extreme drought: 1.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

58 / 69

Knox County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 43.9%
--- Severe drought: 53.9%
--- Extreme drought: 2.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

59 / 69

Stanton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 43.1%
--- Severe drought: 54.4%
--- Extreme drought: 2.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Zack Frank // Shutterstock

60 / 69

Scotts Bluff County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 19.8%
--- Severe drought: 69.5%
--- Extreme drought: 10.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

61 / 69

Pierce County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 23.3%
--- Severe drought: 61.8%
--- Extreme drought: 14.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

62 / 69

Cedar County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 17.9%
--- Severe drought: 56.1%
--- Extreme drought: 26.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

63 / 69

Madison County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 67.9%
--- Extreme drought: 32.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

SevenMaps // Shutterstock

64 / 69

Dixon County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 4.4%
--- Severe drought: 57.4%
--- Extreme drought: 38.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

65 / 69

Antelope County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 51.9%
--- Extreme drought: 48.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

66 / 69

Sheridan County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 50.9%
--- Extreme drought: 49.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

67 / 69

Box Butte County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 43.1%
--- Extreme drought: 56.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Zack Frank // Shutterstock

68 / 69

Sioux County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 8.7%
--- Extreme drought: 91.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

69 / 69

Dawes County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 100.0%
--- 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.