Counties with the worst droughts in Texas

Written by:
September 27, 2024
Canva

Counties with the worst droughts in Texas

Over one-third 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. West Virginia is currently the state with the most widespread drought, covering all of the state's area.

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.

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 Texas with the worst droughts as of Sept. 24, 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.

1 / 46
Emma Rubin // Stacker

Texas statistics

- Abnormally dry: 29.5%
- Area in drought: 33.1% (#21 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 17.0%
--- Severe drought: 9.1%
--- Extreme drought: 5.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 1.6%
2 / 46
Canva

Wise 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%
3 / 46
Canva

Swisher 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%
4 / 46
Canva

Rockwall 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%
5 / 46
Canva

Kaufman 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%
6 / 46
xradiophotog // Shutterstock

Floyd 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%
7 / 46
Canva

Dickens 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%
8 / 46
Canva

Denton 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%
9 / 46
Canva

Crosby 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%
10 / 46
Canva

Collin 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%
11 / 46
Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

Hunt County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
12 / 46
xradiophotog // Shutterstock

Knox County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 94.6%
--- Severe drought: 5.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
13 / 46
LMPark Photos // Shutterstock

Henderson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.1%
--- Severe drought: 8.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
14 / 46
Canva

Briscoe County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 82.5%
--- Severe drought: 17.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
15 / 46
Canva

Rains County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 72.0%
--- Severe drought: 28.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
16 / 46
Canva

Cooke County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 68.9%
--- Severe drought: 31.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
17 / 46
mivod // Shutterstock

Van Zandt County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 68.8%
--- Severe drought: 31.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
18 / 46
Canva

Montague County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 64.7%
--- Severe drought: 35.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
19 / 46
Canva

Baylor County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.4%
--- Severe drought: 39.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
20 / 46
Canva

Motley County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 43.0%
--- Severe drought: 57.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
21 / 46
Timothy L Barnes // Shutterstock

Franklin County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 39.6%
--- Severe drought: 60.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
22 / 46
Canva

El Paso County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 28.3%
--- Severe drought: 71.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
23 / 46
Canva

Fannin County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 24.6%
--- Severe drought: 75.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
24 / 46
Edward H. Campbell // Shutterstock

Grayson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 17.7%
--- Severe drought: 82.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
25 / 46
Canva

Hopkins County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 11.9%
--- Severe drought: 88.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
26 / 46
xradiophotog // Shutterstock

Wood County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.3%
--- Severe drought: 91.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
27 / 46
underworld // Shutterstock

Delta County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.8%
--- Severe drought: 93.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
28 / 46
Canva

Lamar 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%
29 / 46
SevenMaps // Shutterstock

Loving County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 20.1%
--- Severe drought: 79.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
30 / 46
Canva

Hall County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.1%
--- Severe drought: 98.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
31 / 46
Darlene Tompkins // Shutterstock

King County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 70.4%
--- Severe drought: 28.3%
--- Extreme drought: 1.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
32 / 46
Canva

Bandera County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.9%
--- Severe drought: 88.1%
--- Extreme drought: 3.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
33 / 46
Canva

Archer County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.6%
--- Severe drought: 88.7%
--- Extreme drought: 5.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
34 / 46
xradiophotog // Shutterstock

Clay County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 18.6%
--- Severe drought: 65.1%
--- Extreme drought: 16.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
35 / 46
Canva

Foard County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 24.0%
--- Severe drought: 51.8%
--- Extreme drought: 24.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
36 / 46
Canva

Wilbarger County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.8%
--- Severe drought: 46.6%
--- Extreme drought: 51.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
37 / 46
Canva

Reeves County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 47.8%
--- Extreme drought: 52.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
38 / 46
Canva

Childress County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 31.7%
--- Extreme drought: 68.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
39 / 46
Canva

Cottle County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 23.8%
--- Extreme drought: 76.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
40 / 46
Canva

Hardeman County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 10.2%
--- Extreme drought: 89.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
41 / 46
Canva

Wichita County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.0%
--- Extreme drought: 99.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
42 / 46
Canva

Brewster County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.7%
--- Severe drought: 45.1%
--- Extreme drought: 48.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
43 / 46
Richard J Roberts // Shutterstock

Hudspeth County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 23.6%
--- Severe drought: 49.6%
--- Extreme drought: 25.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 1.7%
44 / 46
Canva

Culberson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.0%
--- Extreme drought: 78.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 20.5%
45 / 46
Canva

Jeff Davis County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 6.6%
--- Extreme drought: 56.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 37.4%
46 / 46
Canva

Presidio County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 31.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 69.0%

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 45 states.

Trending Now