The worst drought years since 2000, county by county
The years that hit everyone
Ranked by the share of counties that reached 13+ drought weeks: 2012 (63% of counties), 2022 (49% of counties), 2000 (48% of counties), 2023 (48% of counties) and 2007 (47% of counties). In those years a drought on your street was part of something national, not bad local luck.
2012
2,033 of 3,222 counties in a drought year. Hardest-hit states by county count: TX (247), GA (144), MO (115), KS (105) and IL (99). It was the single worst year on record for Bullock County, AL, Elmore County, AL and Tallapoosa County, AL.
2022
1,586 of 3,222 counties in a drought year. Hardest-hit states by county count: TX (246), KS (96), NE (93), OK (77) and AR (75). It was the single worst year on record for Elbert County, CO, El Paso County, CO and Lincoln County, CO.
2000
1,557 of 3,221 counties in a drought year. Hardest-hit states by county count: TX (229), GA (159), IA (95), TN (95) and NE (87). It was the single worst year on record for Calhoun County, AL, Chambers County, AL and Cherokee County, AL.
The quiet years
The fewest counties in drought: 2019 (11% of counties), 2010 (16% of counties) and 2009 (16% of counties). A lawn planted in one of those years got an easy start that tells you little about the next ten.
The longest spells
Longest unbroken run of drought weeks: Sweetwater County, WY, 406 weeks from Jun 26, 2001, Natrona County, WY, 361 weeks from Jun 26, 2001 and Scotts Bluff County, NE, 341 weeks from Feb 5, 2002. Whether your own county is getting drier is covered in is my county getting drier?; the counting rules are in how drought is counted.