The Counties With the Worst Drought Right Now
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/07205535/Drought-conditions-as-of-August-15-2025-150x150.pngAccording to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 18.0% of the contiguous United States is in severe drought or worse, a decline of several percentage points from April. While drought conditions nationwide have improved in recent months, some counties remain in exceptional drought – the most intense category of drought – with little relief in sight.
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There are 19 counties with some level of exceptional drought, representing 2.9 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 August 15, 2025. Supplemental data on home value and population are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.
19. Graham County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.1%
- Temperature maximum this week: 94.9°F
- Value of all homes: $2.0 billion
- Total population: 38,860
- County seat: Safford
18. Bexar County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.2%
- Temperature maximum this week: 98.0°F
- Value of all homes: $128.3 billion
- Total population: 2,037,344
- County seat: San Antonio
17. Presidio County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 0.3%
- Temperature maximum this week: 92.9°F
- Value of all homes: $495.8 million
- Total population: 6,043
- County seat: Marfa
16. Atascosa County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 1.6%
- Temperature maximum this week: 99.8°F
- Value of all homes: $2.6 billion
- Total population: 50,058
- County seat: Jourdanton
15. Catron County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 2.4%
- Temperature maximum this week: 84.5°F
- Value of all homes: $404.7 million
- Total population: 3,685
- County seat: Reserve
14. Imperial County, CA
- Land area in exceptional drought: 3.6%
- Temperature maximum this week: 108.9°F
- Value of all homes: $8.5 billion
- Total population: 179,319
- County seat: El Centro
13. Benewah County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 5.0%
- Temperature maximum this week: 87.0°F
- Value of all homes: $982.9 million
- Total population: 9,913
- County seat: St. Maries
12. Latah County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 5.7%
- Temperature maximum this week: 88.4°F
- Value of all homes: $3.9 billion
- Total population: 40,315
- County seat: Moscow
11. Brewster County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 6.0%
- Temperature maximum this week: 95.7°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%
- Temperature maximum this week: 100.5°F
- Value of all homes: $469.8 million
- Total population: 18,019
- County seat: Pearsall
9. Yuma County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 7.1%
- Temperature maximum this week: 108.5°F
- Value of all homes: $12.0 billion
- Total population: 207,685
- County seat: Yuma
8. Clearwater County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 11.6%
- Temperature maximum this week: 84.5°F
- Value of all homes: $908.4 million
- Total population: 8,921
- County seat: Orofino
7. Luna County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 14.4%
- Temperature maximum this week: 94.7°F
- Value of all homes: $886.3 million
- Total population: 25,420
- County seat: Deming
6. Cochise County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 16.4%
- Temperature maximum this week: 93.7°F
- Value of all homes: $8.7 billion
- Total population: 125,458
- County seat: Bisbee
5. Shoshone County, ID
- Land area in exceptional drought: 46.3%
- Temperature maximum this week: 81.0°F
- Value of all homes: $1.0 billion
- Total population: 13,580
- County seat: Wallace
4. Grant County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 56.4%
- Temperature maximum this week: 88.8°F
- Value of all homes: $1.7 billion
- Total population: 27,856
- County seat: Silver City
3. Greenlee County, AZ
- Land area in exceptional drought: 67.2%
- Temperature maximum this week: 90.1°F
- Value of all homes: $308.4 million
- Total population: 9,452
- County seat: Clifton
2. Medina County, TX
- Land area in exceptional drought: 67.8%
- Temperature maximum this week: 97.8°F
- Value of all homes: $4.0 billion
- Total population: 52,419
- County seat: Hondo
1. Hidalgo County, NM
- Land area in exceptional drought: 84.2%
- Temperature maximum this week: 92.5°F
- Value of all homes: $175.3 million
- Total population: 4,097
- County seat: Lordsburg