The US Counties That Had Historically Low Rainfall Last Month
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/08000856/134525-150x150.jpgAfter hurricanes Helene and Milton dumped record amounts of rainfall throughout the Southeast in September, a bulk of the country entered a period of historic drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 87.8% of the contiguous U.S. is currently abnormally dry, the largest share since the USDM began tracking national drought conditions in 1999.
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In 99 counties, October brought no measurable precipitation at all. A closer look at the data reveals counties throughout the South and other regions where October rainfall was the farthest from normal last month.
To determine the counties with historically low rainfall last month, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on monthly precipitation from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Counties with zero measurable precipitation in October 2024 were inversely ranked based on normal average October precipitation for 1901 through 2000. Supplemental data on the percentage of land area classified as in moderate to exceptional drought is from the U.S. Drought Monitor and is for November 5, 2024.
25. Coosa County, AL
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.71 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 94.1%
- County seat: Rockford
24. Butts County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.71 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Jackson
23. Jasper County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.72 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Monticello
22. Richmond County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.74 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Augusta
21. Glascock County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.74 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Gibson
20. Fayette County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.75 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Fayetteville
19. Henry County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.80 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: McDonough
18. Calhoun County, AL
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.81 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 84.0%
- County seat: Anniston
17. Clayton County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.82 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Jonesboro
16. Uvalde County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.83 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Uvalde
15. Warren County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.84 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Warrenton
14. Clay County, AL
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.86 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 57.9%
- County seat: Ashland
13. Newton County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.88 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Covington
12. Columbia County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.91 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Evans
11. McDuffie County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.92 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Thomson
10. Rockdale County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.93 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Conyers
9. DeKalb County, GA
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.95 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 0.0%
- County seat: Decatur
8. Salem County, NJ
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 2.98 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Salem
7. Gonzales County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.31 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Gonzales
6. Monmouth County, NJ
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.32 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Freehold
5. Guadalupe County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.33 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Seguin
4. Caldwell County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.34 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Lockhart
3. Bastrop County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.45 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Bastrop
2. Lee County, TX
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.45 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Giddings
1. Essex County, NJ
- October 2024 rainfall: 0.00 inches
- Normal October rainfall, 1901-2000: 3.64 inches
- County land area in moderate to severe drought: 100.0%
- County seat: Newark
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