Kerr County In Texas Is One of the Driest Places in US: That’s What Made Flash Flooding So Severe
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07212942/Drought-conditions-July-1-to-7-2025-150x150.pngOver the holiday weekend, torrential downpours swept through Central Texas, flooding the Guadalupe River in a matter of hours. While rescue efforts are ongoing, the flash flood event has killed at least 119 people as of Wednesday, with dozens more missing.
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One of the factors that contributed to the severity of the floods was extreme drought. Kerr County has been in drought for most of the year, hardening soil and reducing the floodplain’s ability to absorb water. Despite heavy rainfall, 52.5% of Kerr County remains in exceptional drought – the most severe category of drought intensity – the ninth most of any county. A closer look at the data reveals the counties with the worst drought conditions right now.
To determine the counties with the worst drought conditions right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on drought conditions from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Counties were ranked based on the percentage of land area in exceptional drought (D4) as of June 7, 2025. Data was aggregated in QGIS using spatial boundaries from the U.S. Census Bureau. Supplemental data on population and housing value are from the Census Bureau.
25. Zavala County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 2.8%
- Temperature average this week: 84.4°F
- Value of all homes: $281.3 million
- Total population: 9,532
- County seat: Crystal City
24. Imperial County, CA
- Land area in exceptional drought: 3.6%
- Temperature average this week: 97.3°F
- Value of all homes: $8.5 billion
- Total population: 179,319
- County seat: El Centro
23. Graham County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 5.9%
- Temperature average this week: 87.7°F
- Value of all homes: $2.0 billion
- Total population: 38,860
- County seat: Safford
22. Yuma County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 7.1%
- Temperature average this week: 97.7°F
- Value of all homes: $12.0 billion
- Total population: 207,685
- County seat: Yuma
21. Catron County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 9.7%
- Temperature average this week: 75.3°F
- Value of all homes: $404.7 million
- Total population: 3,685
- County seat: Reserve
20. Real County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 10.5%
- Temperature average this week: 80.2°F
- Value of all homes: $226.0 million
- Total population: 2,821
- County seat: Leakey
19. Hudspeth County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 12.9%
- Temperature average this week: 81.4°F
- Value of all homes: $79.7 million
- Total population: 3,331
- County seat: Sierra Blanca
18. Atascosa County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 15.7%
- Temperature average this week: 83.5°F
- Value of all homes: $2.6 billion
- Total population: 50,058
- County seat: Jourdanton
17. Cochise County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 18.4%
- Temperature average this week: 85.7°F
- Value of all homes: $8.7 billion
- Total population: 125,458
- County seat: Bisbee
16. Gillespie County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 18.8%
- Temperature average this week: 78.7°F
- Value of all homes: $4.3 billion
- Total population: 27,202
- County seat: Fredericksburg
15. Culberson County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 24.5%
- Temperature average this week: 80.2°F
- Value of all homes: $43.3 million
- Total population: 2,181
- County seat: Van Horn
14. Luna County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 24.9%
- Temperature average this week: 85.5°F
- Value of all homes: $886.3 million
- Total population: 25,420
- County seat: Deming
13. Frio County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 27.5%
- Temperature average this week: 83.9°F
- Value of all homes: $469.8 million
- Total population: 18,019
- County seat: Pearsall
12. Jeff Davis County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 29.1%
- Temperature average this week: 76.9°F
- Value of all homes: $272.6 million
- Total population: 1,740
- County seat: Fort Davis
11. Kendall County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 33.1%
- Temperature average this week: 80.1°F
- Value of all homes: $8.9 billion
- Total population: 46,971
- County seat: Boerne
10. Bexar County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 37.7%
- Temperature average this week: 82.8°F
- Value of all homes: $128.3 billion
- Total population: 2,037,344
- County seat: San Antonio
9. Kerr County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 53.5%
- Temperature average this week: 79.0°F
- Value of all homes: $6.1 billion
- Total population: 53,166
- County seat: Kerrville
8. Uvalde County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 53.7%
- Temperature average this week: 82.5°F
- Value of all homes: $1.3 billion
- Total population: 24,810
- County seat: Uvalde
7. Brewster County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 67.8%
- Temperature average this week: 80.8°F
- Value of all homes: $617.3 million
- Total population: 9,464
- County seat: Alpine
6. Grant County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 78.7%
- Temperature average this week: 81.2°F
- Value of all homes: $1.7 billion
- Total population: 27,856
- County seat: Silver City
5. Greenlee County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 87.8%
- Temperature average this week: 83.3°F
- Value of all homes: $308.4 million
- Total population: 9,452
- County seat: Clifton
4. Presidio County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 98.3%
- Temperature average this week: 80.1°F
- Value of all homes: $495.8 million
- Total population: 6,043
- County seat: Marfa
3. Bandera County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 99.0%
- Temperature average this week: 80.4°F
- Value of all homes: $2.7 billion
- Total population: 21,589
- County seat: Bandera
2. Medina County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 100.0%
- Temperature average this week: 81.9°F
- Value of all homes: $4.0 billion
- Total population: 52,419
- County seat: Hondo
1. Hidalgo County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 100.0%
- Temperature average this week: 85.1°F
- Value of all homes: $175.3 million
- Total population: 4,097
- County seat: Lordsburg
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