Counties with the worst droughts in Texas
Canva
Counties with the worst droughts in Texas
About one-fifth 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 90.5% 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 July 16, 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: Best scenic drives in Texas
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Texas statistics
– Abnormally dry: 23.5%
– Area in drought: 25.4% (#17 nationally)
— Moderate drought: 11.2%
— Severe drought: 8.1%
— Extreme drought: 6.1%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Pecos County
– Abnormally dry: 6.7%
– Area in drought: 93.3%
— Moderate drought: 90.4%
— Severe drought: 3.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
SG Arts // Shutterstock
Midland County
– Abnormally dry: 5.0%
– Area in drought: 95.0%
— Moderate drought: 95.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Andrews County
– Abnormally dry: 2.8%
– Area in drought: 97.2%
— Moderate drought: 97.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Real County
– Abnormally dry: 2.4%
– Area in drought: 97.6%
— Moderate drought: 9.2%
— Severe drought: 88.4%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Counties with the lowest cost of living in Texas
Canva
Zavala County
– Abnormally dry: 1.7%
– Area in drought: 98.3%
— Moderate drought: 74.5%
— Severe drought: 23.8%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Val Verde County
– Abnormally dry: 0.4%
– Area in drought: 99.6%
— Moderate drought: 28.5%
— Severe drought: 32.4%
— Extreme drought: 38.7%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Bexar County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 93.6%
— Severe drought: 6.4%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Winkler County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 87.5%
— Severe drought: 12.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Ector County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 86.3%
— Severe drought: 13.7%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: How much manufacturers in Texas spend on equipment
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
Loving County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 83.4%
— Severe drought: 16.6%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Crane County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 50.1%
— Severe drought: 49.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Gestalt Imagery // Shutterstock
Terrell County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 37.5%
— Severe drought: 62.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Ward County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 7.3%
— Severe drought: 92.7%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Reeves County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.5%
— Severe drought: 99.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: The number of registered hunters in Texas
Canva
Uvalde 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
Medina County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 41.1%
— Severe drought: 55.6%
— Extreme drought: 3.3%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Brewster County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 37.0%
— Severe drought: 28.1%
— Extreme drought: 34.9%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Kendall County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 6.8%
— Severe drought: 58.0%
— Extreme drought: 35.2%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Richard J Roberts // Shutterstock
Hudspeth County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 60.4%
— Extreme drought: 39.6%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Counties with the highest unemployment in Texas
Canva
Bandera County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 56.2%
— Extreme drought: 43.8%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Jeff Davis County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 3.1%
— Severe drought: 39.1%
— Extreme drought: 57.7%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Culberson County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 37.7%
— Extreme drought: 62.3%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
El Paso County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 33.5%
— Extreme drought: 66.5%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Kinney County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 13.1%
— Extreme drought: 86.9%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: How opioid prescriptions to Medicaid patients in Texas stack up
Canva
Presidio County
– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 100.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 31 states.
