Counties with the worst droughts in Virginia

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 Virginia 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.

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Virginia

Emma Rubin // Stacker

1 / 55

Virginia statistics

- Abnormally dry: 69.8%
- Area in drought: 29.8% (#31 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 23.3%
--- Severe drought: 6.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

2 / 55

Winchester City

- 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%

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

3 / 55

Waynesboro City

- 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%

Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

4 / 55

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%

Sherry V Smith // Shutterstock

5 / 55

Virginia Beach City

- 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%

You may also like: Highest-rated wineries in Virginia by visitors

Canva

6 / 55

Staunton City

- 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

7 / 55

Shenandoah 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 / 55

Salem City

- 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 / 55

Rockingham 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 / 55

Roanoke City

- 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%

You may also like: Countries from which Virginia imports the most goods

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

11 / 55

Rappahannock 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%

Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock

12 / 55

Radford City

- 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%

Ethan Quin // Shutterstock

13 / 55

Pulaski 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%

Comfreeze.Net Inc // Shutterstock

14 / 55

Poquoson City

- 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 / 55

Page 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%

You may also like: Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Virginia

Canva

16 / 55

Norfolk City

- 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 / 55

Mathews 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 / 55

Madison 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%

ButtermilkgirlVirginia // Shutterstock

19 / 55

Louisa 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%

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

20 / 55

Lexington City

- 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%

You may also like: Coldest Septembers in Virginia since 1895

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

21 / 55

Highland 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%

Chankhamp // Shutterstock

22 / 55

Harrisonburg City

- 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

23 / 55

Hanover 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 / 55

Greene 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%

Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

25 / 55

Frederick 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%

You may also like: Counties with the most motor vehicle accident fatalities in Virginia

refrina // Shutterstock

26 / 55

Clarke 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%

ImagineerInc // Shutterstock

27 / 55

Charlottesville City

- 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

28 / 55

Buena Vista City

- 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

29 / 55

Augusta 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

30 / 55

King William County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 98.4%
--- Severe drought: 1.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

You may also like: The Brine Boom: Pickles are popping off in grocery aisles in Virginia

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

31 / 55

Orange County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.6%
--- Severe drought: 8.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Kyle J Little // Shutterstock

32 / 55

Northampton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 90.4%
--- Severe drought: 9.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

refrina // Shutterstock

33 / 55

Culpeper County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 89.9%
--- Severe drought: 10.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

34 / 55

Fauquier County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 79.2%
--- Severe drought: 20.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

EchoFree // Shutterstock

35 / 55

Middlesex County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 53.7%
--- Severe drought: 46.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Virginia

Regine Poirier // Shutterstock

36 / 55

Spotsylvania County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 51.4%
--- Severe drought: 48.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Carolyn M Carpenter // Shutterstock

37 / 55

Caroline County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 50.6%
--- Severe drought: 49.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

38 / 55

Loudoun County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 23.1%
--- Severe drought: 76.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

39 / 55

Prince William County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.9%
--- Severe drought: 91.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Canva

40 / 55

Lancaster 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%

You may also like: More electric vehicles means less gas tax revenue: How this impacts Virginia's budget

Canva

41 / 55

Accomack County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.1%
--- Severe drought: 99.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock

42 / 55

Westmoreland 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%

Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

43 / 55

Stafford 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%

Erin Cadigan // Shutterstock

44 / 55

Richmond 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%

Dan Kauffman // Shutterstock

45 / 55

Northumberland 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%

You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in Virginia

Canva

46 / 55

Manassas Park City

- 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%

refrina // Shutterstock

47 / 55

Manassas City

- 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

48 / 55

King George 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 / 55

Fredericksburg City

- 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

50 / 55

Falls Church City

- 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%

You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Virginia

MarkVanDykePhotography // Shutterstock

51 / 55

Fairfax 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%

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

52 / 55

Fairfax City

- 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 / 55

Essex 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

54 / 55

Arlington 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%

Steve Heap // Shutterstock

55 / 55

Alexandria City

- 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%

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.

You may also like: See the most extreme temperatures in Virginia history