US Counties Reporting the Worst Droughts This Summer
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07211801/4452116-150x150.jpegThe seasons for some of the most destructive natural disasters in the United States – such as wildfires and hurricanes – include the summer months. But warmer summer temperatures can also create the conditions for another kind of natural disaster which, despite potentially devastating consequences, can often go unnoticed by millions of Americans.
Typically caused by a prolonged period of below-average precipitation, in addition to rapid rates of evaporation in the summer heat, droughts can have serious ecological, economic, and public health implications. The most direct impacts of a drought can include loss of agricultural crops, reduced water quality, commercial delays on river-based shipping routes, and degradation of natural ecosystems. According to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, there were 32 major drought events nationwide between 1980 and 2024 that resulted in at least $1 billion in inflation-adjusted losses. Extreme heat associated with these droughts also resulted in nearly 4,700 deaths.
Serious drought conditions are currently impacting much of the country. A recent report from the U.S. Drought Monitor found that 31.4% of land area in the U.S. was experiencing moderate drought conditions, as of July 15, 2025. Additionally, 17.7% of the country was in a severe drought and 5.8% was in extreme drought. Exceptional drought, the highest level of classification, was affecting less than 1% of land area nationwide as of mid-July. In certain parts of the country, however, exceptional drought is far more widespread.
Using data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, Climate Crisis 247 identified the U.S. counties suffering through the worst droughts. We reviewed drought data for over 3,200 U.S. counties and county equivalents and ranked them on the share of land area within their borders reporting exceptional drought conditions. Only counties reporting some level of exceptional drought were ranked. Drought conditions in this story are current as of July 15, 2025 and supplemental population data are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.
The 19 counties on this list span four states – Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas – and are home to over 2.8 million people, collectively.
19. Bexar County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 0.2%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 99.0% severe drought, 61.4% extreme drought
- County population: 2,037,344
18. Apache County, Arizona
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 1.0%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 93.3% moderate drought, 51.4% severe drought, 23.9% extreme drought
- County population: 65,680
17. Atascosa County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 1.6%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 98.5% severe drought, 31.5% extreme drought
- County population: 50,058
16. Catron County, New Mexico
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 2.7%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 98.1% extreme drought
- County population: 3,685
15. Imperial County, California
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 3.6%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 81.4% extreme drought
- County population: 179,319
14. Graham County, Arizona
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 5.9%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 38,860
13. Frio County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 6.2%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 67.0% severe drought, 12.9% extreme drought
- County population: 18,019
12. Yuma County, Arizona
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 7.1%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 97.1% extreme drought
- County population: 207,685
11. Hudspeth County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 12.9%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 91.7% extreme drought
- County population: 3,331
10. Cochise County, Arizona
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 18.4%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 125,458
9. Culberson County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 24.5%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 88.9% severe drought, 69.9% extreme drought
- County population: 2,181
8. Luna County, New Mexico
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 24.9%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 25,420
7. Jeff Davis County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 29.1%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 90.2% severe drought, 53.2% extreme drought
- County population: 1,740
6. Brewster County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 67.8%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 94.0% severe drought, 83.9% extreme drought
- County population: 9,464
5. Medina County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 67.8%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 94.3% extreme drought
- County population: 52,419
4. Grant County, New Mexico
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 72.8%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 27,856
3. Greenlee County, Arizona
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 87.8%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 9,452
2. Presidio County, Texas
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 98.3%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 6,043
1. Hidalgo County, New Mexico
- Land area in county currently experiencing exceptional drought: 100%
- Land area in county currently reporting additional drought conditions: 100% moderate drought, 100% severe drought, 100% extreme drought
- County population: 4,097
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