Special Report
This State Has the Worst Drought in America
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While heavy rains helped alleviate severe drought conditions across some regions in the United States in recent weeks, abnormally hot weather worsened conditions across others. The state enduring the worst drought is Utah, according to Drought Monitor data for the week ending July 12. As much as 65.2% of land area in the state is in exceptional drought (D4) — the maximum level of drought.
Large sections of the United States remain in the grip of historic drought levels — some the worst seen in centuries.
For example, in Oregon, soil moisture, streamflow, and precipitation measurements indicate that drought conditions are among the worst since 1895. In Washington, rangeland and pasture conditions are reported to be far worse this year than in any year this century.
In Idaho, where some areas saw a relatively drastic uptick in drought categories, from D1 to D3, the drought monitor reported storage levels and water use priorities associated with the Big Lost River have been limited to early 1884 priorities. Montana recorded precipitation less than 25% of normal in June, historically the wettest month of the year in the state.
Drought conditions are inherently difficult to measure and change frequently, even within states. To provide context, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed drought statistics for the last 12 months for every county in the nation from the Drought Severity and Coverage Index, a product of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The 51 counties on this list are in just eight states: Texas (11), Arizona (8), New Mexico (8), Utah (8), California (7), Colorado (5), North Dakota (2), and Nevada (2).
These areas have had the most consecutive days with 100% of land area in extreme (D3) or exceptional (D4) drought over the 12 months through this Monday. Drought severity is measured from D0 (no drought) to D4 (exceptional drought) for each week of the year.
To be included in our ranking, a county must have had at least one week of exceptional drought. The percentage of land area currently in exceptional drought, the number of weeks each county had 50% or more of land area in exceptional drought, and the number of weeks each county had any amount of extreme or exceptional drought over the past 12 months were computed by 24/7 Wall St. using data from the Drought Monitor. Total population for 2019 is from the American Community Survey 2019 5-Year Estimates.
Click here to see which state has the worst drought in America.
51. San Juan County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 93.6%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 2
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 126,515
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50. Apache County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 97.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 2
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 71,511
49. Cochran County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 4
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 21
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 40 (September 1,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 12,188
48. Presidio County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 27
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 4,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 6,975
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47. Culberson County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 27
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 49 (July 28,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 5,506
46. Jeff Davis County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 4,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 2,241
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45. Winkler County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 42 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 7,867
44. Reeves County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (July 28,2020 – June 28,2021)
> Population: 15,492
43. Marin County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 12 (April 20,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 259,943
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42. Loving County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (July 28,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 14,796
41. Napa County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 139,623
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40. McHenry County, North Dakota
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 17 (March 16,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 4,181
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39. McLean County, North Dakota
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 17 (March 16,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 9,584
38. Sacramento County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 1,524,553
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37. Solano County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 441,829
36. Sutter County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 96,109
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35. Yolo County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 217,352
34. Contra Costa County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 12 (April 20,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 1,142,251
33. Navajo County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 109,270
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32. Zapata County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 24 (December 15,2020 – May 31,2021)
> Population: 14,304
31. Coconino County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 47 (August 18,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 141,274
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30. Gila County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 53,546
29. San Miguel County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 99.8%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 8,049
28. Graham County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 37,996
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27. Greenlee County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 20,517
26. La Plata County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 98.7%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 23
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 55,617
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25. San Juan County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 72.4%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 589
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24. Dolores County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 15,902
23. Roosevelt County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 13.2%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 29
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 18,888
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22. Yoakum County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 26
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (July 7,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 8,631
21. Montezuma County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 26,031
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20. Lea County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 6.5%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 29
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 70,277
19. Bailey County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 44 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 11,910
18. Cochise County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 125,867
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17. Hidalgo County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 4,297
16. Santa Cruz County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 44 (September 8,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 46,480
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15. Millard County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 42
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 12,854
14. Juab County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 41
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 11,301
13. Sevier County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 21,280
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12. Lincoln County, Nevada
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 20
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 49 (August 4,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 5,180
11. Beaver County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 21
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 38
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 6,517
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10. Chaves County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 42.8%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 22
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 32
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 65,144
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9. Eddy County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 29.4%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 22
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 30
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 57,732
8. Piute County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 7,646
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7. Santa Fe County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 26
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 3,856
6. Parmer County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 28
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 9,718
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5. Clark County, Nevada
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 30
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 2,182,004
24/7 Wall St.4. Kane County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 32
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 7,484
3. Iron County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 51,213
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2. Washington County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 165,811
1. Los Alamos County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 18,625
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