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 Tennessee 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 / 31Tennessee statistics
- Abnormally dry: 18.5%
- Area in drought: 38.3% (#25 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 9.0%
--- Severe drought: 20.4%
--- Extreme drought: 8.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Warren 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%
Sequatchie 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%
Scott 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%
Polk 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%
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Grundy 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%
DeKalb 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%
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8 / 31Bradley 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%
Hamilton County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.7%
--- Severe drought: 0.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Pickett County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 92.8%
--- Severe drought: 7.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Van Buren County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 89.6%
--- Severe drought: 10.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cannon County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 86.5%
--- Severe drought: 13.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
White County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 79.5%
--- Severe drought: 20.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Putnam County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 64.2%
--- Severe drought: 35.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fentress County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 47.5%
--- Severe drought: 52.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Overton County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 39.5%
--- Severe drought: 60.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Meigs County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 28.9%
--- Severe drought: 71.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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20 / 31Franklin County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 15.3%
--- Severe drought: 84.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rhea County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.6%
--- Severe drought: 98.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Coffee County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.3%
--- Severe drought: 39.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Morgan County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 72.7%
--- Severe drought: 23.5%
--- Extreme drought: 3.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cumberland County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 93.4%
--- Extreme drought: 6.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Roane County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 15.8%
--- Severe drought: 75.0%
--- Extreme drought: 9.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Moore County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 31.6%
--- Extreme drought: 68.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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28 / 31Bedford County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.6%
--- Severe drought: 17.3%
--- Extreme drought: 82.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marshall County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.2%
--- Severe drought: 12.1%
--- Extreme drought: 82.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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30 / 31Lincoln County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 44.5%
--- Extreme drought: 49.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 6.5%
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31 / 31Giles County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 8.8%
--- Extreme drought: 68.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 22.7%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
