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.
Texas statistics
- Area in drought: 33.1% (#21 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 17.0%
--- Severe drought: 9.1%
--- Extreme drought: 5.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 1.6%
Wise County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Swisher County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rockwall County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kaufman County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Floyd County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Dickens County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Denton County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Crosby County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Collin County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hunt County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Knox County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 94.6%
--- Severe drought: 5.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Henderson County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.1%
--- Severe drought: 8.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Briscoe County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 82.5%
--- Severe drought: 17.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Rains County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 72.0%
--- Severe drought: 28.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cooke County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 68.9%
--- Severe drought: 31.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Van Zandt County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 68.8%
--- Severe drought: 31.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Montague County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 64.7%
--- Severe drought: 35.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Baylor County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.4%
--- Severe drought: 39.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Motley County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 43.0%
--- Severe drought: 57.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Franklin County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 39.6%
--- Severe drought: 60.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
El Paso County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 28.3%
--- Severe drought: 71.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fannin County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 24.6%
--- Severe drought: 75.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Grayson County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 17.7%
--- Severe drought: 82.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hopkins County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 11.9%
--- Severe drought: 88.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wood County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.3%
--- Severe drought: 91.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Delta County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.8%
--- Severe drought: 93.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lamar County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Loving County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 20.1%
--- Severe drought: 79.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hall County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.1%
--- Severe drought: 98.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
King County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 70.4%
--- Severe drought: 28.3%
--- Extreme drought: 1.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bandera County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.9%
--- Severe drought: 88.1%
--- Extreme drought: 3.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Archer County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.6%
--- Severe drought: 88.7%
--- Extreme drought: 5.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Clay County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 18.6%
--- Severe drought: 65.1%
--- Extreme drought: 16.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Foard County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 24.0%
--- Severe drought: 51.8%
--- Extreme drought: 24.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wilbarger County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 1.8%
--- Severe drought: 46.6%
--- Extreme drought: 51.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Reeves County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 47.8%
--- Extreme drought: 52.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Childress County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 31.7%
--- Extreme drought: 68.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cottle County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 23.8%
--- Extreme drought: 76.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hardeman County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 10.2%
--- Extreme drought: 89.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wichita County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.0%
--- Extreme drought: 99.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Brewster County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.7%
--- Severe drought: 45.1%
--- Extreme drought: 48.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hudspeth County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 23.6%
--- Severe drought: 49.6%
--- Extreme drought: 25.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 1.7%
Culberson County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.0%
--- Extreme drought: 78.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 20.5%
Jeff Davis County
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 6.6%
--- Extreme drought: 56.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 37.4%
Presidio County
- 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.