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 Texas 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 / 87Texas statistics
- Abnormally dry: 16.8%
- Area in drought: 49.5% (#19 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 26.6%
--- Severe drought: 9.9%
--- Extreme drought: 6.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 6.3%
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%
Val Verde 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%
Titus 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%
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%
Robertson 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%
Refugio 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%
Nueces 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%
Navarro 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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Morris 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%
Milam 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%
McLennan 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%
Maverick 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%
xradiophotog // Shutterstock
16 / 87Limestone 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%
Lavaca 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%
Kinney 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%
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%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
20 / 87LMPark Photos // Shutterstock
21 / 87Henderson 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%
Fayette 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%
xradiophotog // Shutterstock
23 / 87Falls 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%
Ellis 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%
Edward H. Campbell // Shutterstock
26 / 87Dimmit 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%
Dallas 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%
michelmond // Shutterstock
28 / 87Colorado 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%
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%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
30 / 87Camp 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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Calhoun 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%
Burleson 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%
Brazos 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%
Austin 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%
Aransas 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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Victoria 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%
Lee County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 98.1%
--- Severe drought: 1.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Zavala County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 96.2%
--- Severe drought: 3.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Gonzales County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 95.0%
--- Severe drought: 5.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock
41 / 87Hunt County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 94.0%
--- Severe drought: 6.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Coryell County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 93.4%
--- Severe drought: 6.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
McMullen County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 91.2%
--- Severe drought: 8.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fannin County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 85.0%
--- Severe drought: 15.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
45 / 87La Salle County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 80.6%
--- Severe drought: 19.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Lampasas County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 80.2%
--- Severe drought: 19.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
mivod // Shutterstock
47 / 87Van Zandt County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 78.9%
--- Severe drought: 21.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Red River County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 78.9%
--- Severe drought: 21.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
DeWitt County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 73.9%
--- Severe drought: 26.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Burnet County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.2%
--- Severe drought: 39.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Tricia Daniel // Shutterstock
51 / 87Bell County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 55.9%
--- Severe drought: 44.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Karnes 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%
xradiophotog // Shutterstock
53 / 87Wood County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 49.0%
--- Severe drought: 51.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Caldwell County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 40.5%
--- Severe drought: 59.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Goliad County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 30.9%
--- Severe drought: 69.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Timothy L Barnes // Shutterstock
56 / 87Franklin 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%
Williamson County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 11.3%
--- Severe drought: 88.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wilson County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.4%
--- Severe drought: 91.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Frio County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 5.2%
--- Severe drought: 94.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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%
Hopkins 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%
underworld // Shutterstock
63 / 87Delta 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%
Gillespie County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 79.5%
--- Severe drought: 20.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bastrop County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 66.4%
--- Severe drought: 29.2%
--- Extreme drought: 4.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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xradiophotog // Shutterstock
66 / 87Atascosa County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 12.6%
--- Severe drought: 82.6%
--- Extreme drought: 4.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kerr County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 27.3%
--- Severe drought: 62.3%
--- Extreme drought: 10.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
68 / 87Guadalupe County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 4.1%
--- Severe drought: 78.1%
--- Extreme drought: 17.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Real County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 42.6%
--- Severe drought: 37.9%
--- Extreme drought: 19.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Blanco County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 51.5%
--- Severe drought: 19.7%
--- Extreme drought: 28.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Travis County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.7%
--- Severe drought: 44.4%
--- Extreme drought: 54.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
El Paso County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 29.9%
--- Extreme drought: 70.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Ward County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.8%
--- Severe drought: 21.7%
--- Extreme drought: 77.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bandera County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 19.1%
--- Extreme drought: 80.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
76 / 87Hays County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 16.4%
--- Extreme drought: 83.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bexar County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 9.3%
--- Extreme drought: 90.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
78 / 87Loving County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 7.5%
--- Extreme drought: 92.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Kendall County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 5.8%
--- Extreme drought: 94.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Comal County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.9%
--- Extreme drought: 98.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Reeves County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 66.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 33.2%
Richard J Roberts // Shutterstock
83 / 87Hudspeth County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 10.6%
--- Extreme drought: 50.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 39.4%
Brewster County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 38.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 61.2%
Jeff Davis County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 1.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 98.3%
Presidio County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 100.0%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
