The Major Cities With the Worst Drought Right Now

By Evan Comen • September 26, 2025

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According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 23.1% of the contiguous United States is in severe drought or worse right now, the largest share since mid-April. Several major cities are experiencing extreme drought, the most intense category of drought.

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In more than 25 cities, at least 5.0% of land is in extreme to exceptional drought. 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 drought-stricken cities. While drought is common in the Southwest this time of year, extreme drought conditions extend as far north as Idaho and Washington. A closer look at the data reveals the cities with the worst drought right now.

To determine the cities with the worst drought right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current drought conditions from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Cities were ranked based on the percentage of land area in extreme to exceptional drought as of September 26, 2025. Only cities with at least 50,000 residents were considered. Data on home value and population are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.

24. Beaumont, CA

Photo by Philip Smart on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 34.1%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 95.2°F
Value of all homes: $5.5 billion
Total population: 53,544

23. Scottsdale, AZ

Photo by Jeremy Alford on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 45.5%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 99.7°F
Value of all homes: $65.5 billion
Total population: 240,537

22. Glendale, AZ

Photo by Avi Waxman on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 52.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 104.0°F
Value of all homes: $16.6 billion
Total population: 248,083

21. Phoenix, AZ

Photo by Chris Tingom on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 57.9%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.1°F
Value of all homes: $140.9 billion
Total population: 1,609,456

20. San Antonio, TX

Photo by weston m on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 60.4%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 93.8°F
Value of all homes: $67.1 billion
Total population: 1,445,662

19. Clarksville, TN

Photo by Elmer Cañas on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 69.4%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 93.7°F
Value of all homes: $8.2 billion
Total population: 167,882

18. Buckeye, AZ

Photo by Brandon Russell on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 81.2%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.8°F
Value of all homes: $8.7 billion
Total population: 95,042

17. Spokane, WA

Photo by Ryan Miller on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 93.3%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 87.9°F
Value of all homes: $18.6 billion
Total population: 227,922

16. Goodyear, AZ

Photo by Stephen Crane on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 99.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 104.7°F
Value of all homes: $10.9 billion
Total population: 97,542

15. Coeur d'Alene, ID

Photo by Matthew Lancaster on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 87.0°F
Value of all homes: $5.8 billion
Total population: 54,599

14. San Jacinto, CA

Photo by Caleb Jack on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 99.4°F
Value of all homes: $3.8 billion
Total population: 54,077

13. Hemet, CA

Photo by Matti Johnson on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 99.3°F
Value of all homes: $5.0 billion
Total population: 89,651

12. Missoula, MT

Photo by Yohan Marion on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 82.4°F
Value of all homes: $6.6 billion
Total population: 74,627

11. Spokane Valley, WA

Photo by Brian Zhu on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 88.5°F
Value of all homes: $7.8 billion
Total population: 103,761

10. Tempe, AZ

Photo by Andrew Boersma on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.9°F
Value of all homes: $12.8 billion
Total population: 181,005

9. Queen Creek, AZ

Photo by Alex Moliski on Pexels

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.5°F
Value of all homes: $8.8 billion
Total population: 61,788

8. Maricopa, AZ

Photo by Emily Butcher on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.3°F
Value of all homes: $5.1 billion
Total population: 59,605

7. Lake Havasu City, AZ

Photo by Susan Weber on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 102.4°F
Value of all homes: $8.3 billion
Total population: 57,294

6. Avondale, AZ

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.6°F
Value of all homes: $5.3 billion
Total population: 89,214

5. Chandler, AZ

Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.8°F
Value of all homes: $31.8 billion
Total population: 275,618

4. Gilbert, AZ

Photo by Joe Cook on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.9°F
Value of all homes: $34.2 billion
Total population: 267,267

3. San Tan Valley, AZ

Photo by Anupam on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 102.1°F
Value of all homes: $9.4 billion
Total population: 101,207

2. Casa Grande, AZ

Photo by Georg Baumann on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 100.3°F
Value of all homes: $3.2 billion
Total population: 55,186

1. Mesa, AZ

Photo by Wallace Bentt on Unsplash

Land area in extreme to exceptional drought: 100.0%
Forecast maximum temperature this week: 103.8°F
Value of all homes: $44.1 billion
Total population: 503,390

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