This State Has the Worst Drought in America

Special Report

Published: July 14, 2021 3:00 pm

Last Updated: July 14, 2021 3:39 pm

While heavy rains helped alleviate severe drought conditions across some regions in the United States in recent weeks, abnormally hot weather worsened conditions across others. The state enduring the worst drought is Utah, according to Drought Monitor data for the week ending July 12. As much as 65.2% of land area in the state is in exceptional drought (D4) — the maximum level of drought.

Large sections of the United States remain in the grip of historic drought levels — some the worst seen in centuries.

For example, in Oregon, soil moisture, streamflow, and precipitation measurements indicate that drought conditions are among the worst since 1895. In Washington, rangeland and pasture conditions are reported to be far worse this year than in any year this century.

In Idaho, where some areas saw a relatively drastic uptick in drought categories, from D1 to D3, the drought monitor reported storage levels and water use priorities associated with the Big Lost River have been limited to early 1884 priorities. Montana recorded precipitation less than 25% of normal in June, historically the wettest month of the year in the state.

Drought conditions are inherently difficult to measure and change frequently, even within states. To provide context, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed drought statistics for the last 12 months for every county in the nation from the Drought Severity and Coverage Index, a product of the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The 51 counties on this list are in just eight states: Texas (11), Arizona (8), New Mexico (8), Utah (8), California (7), Colorado (5), North Dakota (2), and Nevada (2).

These areas have had the most consecutive days with 100% of land area in extreme (D3) or exceptional (D4) drought over the 12 months through this Monday. Drought severity is measured from D0 (no drought) to D4 (exceptional drought) for each week of the year.

To be included in our ranking, a county must have had at least one week of exceptional drought. The percentage of land area currently in exceptional drought, the number of weeks each county had 50% or more of land area in exceptional drought, and the number of weeks each county had any amount of extreme or exceptional drought over the past 12 months were computed by 24/7 Wall St. using data from the Drought Monitor. Total population for 2019 is from the American Community Survey 2019 5-Year Estimates.

Click here to see which state has the worst drought in America.

Visual Goodness (CC BY 2.0) by John Fowler

51. San Juan County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 93.6%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 2
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 126,515

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Canyon de Chelly National Monu... by Pom'

Canyon de Chelly National Monu... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pom'

50. Apache County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 97.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 2
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 71,511

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49. Cochran County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 4
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 21
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 40 (September 1,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 12,188

Presidio County Courthouse in ... by Jonathan Cutrer

Presidio County Courthouse in ... (CC BY 2.0) by Jonathan Cutrer

48. Presidio County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 27
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 4,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 6,975

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Interstate 10, Culberson Count... by Ken Lund

Interstate 10, Culberson Count... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

47. Culberson County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 27
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 49 (July 28,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 5,506

Wild Rose Pass, Jeff Davis Cou... by Adam Bartlett

Wild Rose Pass, Jeff Davis Cou... (CC BY 2.0) by Adam Bartlett

46. Jeff Davis County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 4,2020 – July 5,2021)
> Population: 2,241

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Entering Mountain Time by Nicolas Henderson

Entering Mountain Time (CC BY 2.0) by Nicolas Henderson

45. Winkler County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 42 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 7,867

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Interstate 10, Reeves County, ... by Ken Lund

Interstate 10, Reeves County, ... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

44. Reeves County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (July 28,2020 – June 28,2021)
> Population: 15,492

Bye bye 2016 (CC BY 2.0) by Mark Gunn

43. Marin County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 5
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 12 (April 20,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 259,943

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Loving County Courthouse (CC BY-SA 2.0) by formulanone

42. Loving County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (July 28,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 14,796

Napa Valley | 2020 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by wikiphotographer

41. Napa County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 139,623

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Source: Publichall / Wikimedia Commons

40. McHenry County, North Dakota
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 17 (March 16,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 4,181

ALSO READ: This Is Best Place to Enjoy the Water in Each State

Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images

39. McLean County, North Dakota
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 17 (March 16,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 9,584

Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images

38. Sacramento County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 1,524,553

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37. Solano County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 441,829

Source: martinalfaro / iStock via Getty Images

36. Sutter County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 96,109

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35. Yolo County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 41 (September 29,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 217,352

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34. Contra Costa County, California
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 7
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 12 (April 20,2021 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 1,142,251

Kayenta, Arizona, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pom'

33. Navajo County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 109,270

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32. Zapata County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 8
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 24 (December 15,2020 – May 31,2021)
> Population: 14,304

Source: volvob12b / Flickr

31. Coconino County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 47 (August 18,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 141,274

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30. Gila County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 9
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 53,546

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San Miguel River, Telluride, C... by Ken Lund

San Miguel River, Telluride, C... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

29. San Miguel County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 99.8%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 8,049

Graham County Courthouse, Saff... by Ken Lund

Graham County Courthouse, Saff... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

28. Graham County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 37,996

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27. Greenlee County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 34
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 20,517

Source: aspidoscelis / Flickr

26. La Plata County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 98.7%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 23
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 55,617

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25. San Juan County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 72.4%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 589

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Dolores County Courthouse near... by Ken Lund

Dolores County Courthouse near... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

24. Dolores County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 10
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 15,902

Source: aspidoscelis / Flickr

23. Roosevelt County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 13.2%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 29
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 18,888

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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

22. Yoakum County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 26
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (July 7,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 8,631

Montezuma County Courthouse, C... by Ken Lund

Montezuma County Courthouse, C... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

21. Montezuma County, Colorado
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 11
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 26,031

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20. Lea County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 6.5%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 29
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 70,277

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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

19. Bailey County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 12
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 44 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 11,910

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

18. Cochise County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 125,867

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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

17. Hidalgo County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 4,297

Historic Santa Cruz County Cou... by Ken Lund

Historic Santa Cruz County Cou... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

16. Santa Cruz County, Arizona
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 13
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 44 (September 8,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 46,480

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15. Millard County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 42
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 12,854

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Source: Robert_Ford / iStock via Getty Images

14. Juab County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 41
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 53 (July 7,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 11,301

Bald Eagles in Sevier County, ... by Ken Lund

Bald Eagles in Sevier County, ... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

13. Sevier County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 16
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 21,280

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Lincoln County Library (CC BY-SA 2.0) by pony rojo

12. Lincoln County, Nevada
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 20
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 49 (August 4,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 5,180

Interstate 15, Beaver, Utah (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

11. Beaver County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 21
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 38
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 6,517

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10. Chaves County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 42.8%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 22
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 32
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 65,144

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9. Eddy County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 29.4%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 22
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 30
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 52 (July 14,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 57,732

Source: FlickreviewR / Wikimedia Commons

8. Piute County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 24
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 48 (August 11,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 7,646

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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

7. Santa Fe County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 26
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 3,856

Source: Larry D. Moore / CC BY-SA 4.0 _https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by-sa_4.0_ / Wikimedia Commons

6. Parmer County, Texas
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 0.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 28
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (August 18,2020 – June 7,2021)
> Population: 9,718

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Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

5. Clark County, Nevada
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 30
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 46 (August 25,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 2,182,004

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Cascade Falls Hike, Kane Count... by Ken Lund

Cascade Falls Hike, Kane Count... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

4. Kane County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 32
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 7,484

Source: markrhiggins / iStock via Getty Images

3. Iron County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 35
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 51,213

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Near Zion Human History Museum... by Ken Lund

Near Zion Human History Museum... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

2. Washington County, Utah
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 33
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 50 (July 28,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 165,811

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

1. Los Alamos County, New Mexico
> % of county in extreme or exceptional drought July 12: 100.0%
> Weeks of 100% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Weeks of at least 50% exceptional drought over past 12 months: 40
> Number of consecutive weeks of any amount of extreme or exceptional drought: 45 (September 1,2020 – July 12,2021)
> Population: 18,625

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