The 16 Counties Where Drought Is The Worst Right Now
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/07201856/Drought-conditions-September-23-2025-150x150.pngAccording to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 23.1% of the contiguous United States is in severe drought or worse, the largest share since April. In more than a dozen counties, some land is in exceptional drought – the most intense category of drought – with little relief in sight.
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There are 16 counties with some level of exceptional drought, representing 2.5 million Americans. Exceptional drought conditions are coinciding with dry vegetation and high winds, prompting the National Weather Service to issue fire weather warnings in a number of counties. A closer look at the data reveals the counties with the worst drought right now.
To determine the counties with the worst drought right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current drought conditions from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Counties were ranked based on the percentage of land area in exceptional drought as of September 22, 2025. Supplemental data on home value and population are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.
16. Graham County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.1%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 74.4°F
- Value of all homes: $2.0 billion
- Total population: 38,860
- County seat: Safford
15. Bexar County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.1%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 81.5°F
- Value of all homes: $128.3 billion
- Total population: 2,037,344
- County seat: San Antonio
14. Presidio County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.3%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 73.7°F
- Value of all homes: $495.8 million
- Total population: 6,043
- County seat: Marfa
13. Atascosa County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 1.6%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 81.9°F
- Value of all homes: $2.6 billion
- Total population: 50,058
- County seat: Jourdanton
12. Catron County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 2.4%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 62.2°F
- Value of all homes: $404.7 million
- Total population: 3,685
- County seat: Reserve
11. Brewster County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 6.0%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 75.4°F
- Value of all homes: $617.3 million
- Total population: 9,464
- County seat: Alpine
10. Frio County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 6.2%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 82.0°F
- Value of all homes: $469.8 million
- Total population: 18,019
- County seat: Pearsall
9. Benewah County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 10.7%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 67.2°F
- Value of all homes: $982.9 million
- Total population: 9,913
- County seat: St. Maries
8. Clearwater County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 12.9%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 64.7°F
- Value of all homes: $908.4 million
- Total population: 8,921
- County seat: Orofino
7. Cochise County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 13.5%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 73.1°F
- Value of all homes: $8.7 billion
- Total population: 125,458
- County seat: Bisbee
6. Medina County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 21.6%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 80.2°F
- Value of all homes: $4.0 billion
- Total population: 52,419
- County seat: Hondo
5. Shoshone County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 22.4%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 65.5°F
- Value of all homes: $1.0 billion
- Total population: 13,580
- County seat: Wallace
4. Latah County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 51.8%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 67.6°F
- Value of all homes: $3.9 billion
- Total population: 40,315
- County seat: Moscow
3. Grant County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 53.0%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 68.4°F
- Value of all homes: $1.7 billion
- Total population: 27,856
- County seat: Silver City
2. Hidalgo County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 60.3%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 72.7°F
- Value of all homes: $175.3 million
- Total population: 4,097
- County seat: Lordsburg
1. Greenlee County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 67.1%
- Forecast average temperature this week: 69.6°F
- Value of all homes: $308.4 million
- Total population: 9,452
- County seat: Clifton