(Stacker) — About one-fifth of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought , according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Storms during this past winter brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020 to 2022. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue. West Virginia is currently the state with the most widespread drought, covering 90.5% of the state’s area.
In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems are also affected as shrinking water supplies impact agriculture and hydropower generation while increasing wildfire risk.
Periods of drought have intensified and become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Scientists predict that even in low-emissions scenarios , much of the U.S. will be drier by the end of the century.
Stacker cited data from the U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in West Virginia with the worst droughts as of July 16, 2024. Counties are listed in order of percent of the area in drought conditions. “Abnormally dry” is not considered to be a drought but is included as a separate data point. Additional data for the state overall is also included. Any counties not experiencing drought are not included in the list. Counties are listed in order of drought severity.
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in West Virginia
1 / 39
Emma Rubin // Stacker
West Virginia statistics – Abnormally dry: 9.0% – Area in drought: 90.5% (#1 nationally) — Moderate drought: 31.6% — Severe drought: 44.9% — Extreme drought: 13.9% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
2 / 39
Angel Cochran // Shutterstock
Putnam County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 100.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
3 / 39
Canva
Kanawha County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 100.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
4 / 39
Canva
Fayette County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 100.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
5 / 39
Canva
Boone County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 72.1% — Severe drought: 27.9% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
How road conditions in West Virginia have deteriorated since 2000
6 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Nicholas County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 69.7% — Severe drought: 30.3% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
7 / 39
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
Greenbrier County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 57.9% — Severe drought: 42.1% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
8 / 39
JNix // Shutterstock
Jackson County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 51.1% — Severe drought: 48.9% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
9 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Clay County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 48.8% — Severe drought: 51.2% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
10 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Lewis County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 43.6% — Severe drought: 56.4% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Best places to live in West Virginia, according to Niche 11 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Webster County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 39.0% — Severe drought: 61.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
12 / 39
Canva
Ohio County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 36.4% — Severe drought: 63.6% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
13 / 39
Canva
Tyler County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 24.1% — Severe drought: 75.9% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
14 / 39
Canva
Roane County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 19.8% — Severe drought: 80.2% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
15 / 39
Canva
Summers County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 19.5% — Severe drought: 80.5% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Best public high schools in West Virginia
16 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Raleigh County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 16.7% — Severe drought: 83.3% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
17 / 39
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
Upshur County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 9.6% — Severe drought: 90.4% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
18 / 39
Canva
Wood County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 5.8% — Severe drought: 94.2% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
19 / 39
Canva
Ritchie County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 2.3% — Severe drought: 97.7% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
20 / 39
Canva
Marshall County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 2.0% — Severe drought: 98.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
What’s happening to the bees in West Virginia? 21 / 39
Canva
Wyoming County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 1.6% — Severe drought: 98.4% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
22 / 39
Canva
Wirt County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
23 / 39
Canva
Pleasants County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
24 / 39
The American Explorer // Shutterstock
Monroe County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
25 / 39
Claire Salvail Photos // Shutterstock
Mercer County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: The most popular poker players in West Virginia
26 / 39
The Old Major // Shutterstock
Gilmer County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
27 / 39
Canva
Calhoun County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
28 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Braxton County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 100.0% — Extreme drought: 0.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
29 / 39
Canva
Pocahontas County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 13.7% — Severe drought: 84.3% — Extreme drought: 1.9% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
30 / 39
Matt Levi Media // Shutterstock
Morgan County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 71.5% — Extreme drought: 28.5% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Is West Virginia actually safe from tornados? 31 / 39
Byron Key // Shutterstock
Berkeley County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 69.2% — Extreme drought: 30.8% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
32 / 39
Canva
Randolph County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 1.0% — Severe drought: 63.9% — Extreme drought: 35.1% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
33 / 39
Dennis Ray Dennison II // Shutterstock
Mineral County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 48.6% — Extreme drought: 51.4% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
34 / 39
Canva
Jefferson County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 41.7% — Extreme drought: 58.3% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
35 / 39
Canva
Tucker County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 4.4% — Severe drought: 34.4% — Extreme drought: 61.2% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Best high schools for sports in West Virginia 36 / 39
mzglass96 // Shutterstock
Grant County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 27.9% — Extreme drought: 72.1% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
37 / 39
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
Pendleton County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 100.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
38 / 39
Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock
Hardy County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 100.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
39 / 39
Bob Couperthwaite // Shutterstock
Hampshire County – Abnormally dry: 0.0% – Area in drought: 100.0% — Moderate drought: 0.0% — Severe drought: 0.0% — Extreme drought: 100.0% — Exceptional drought: 0.0%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 31 states.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Comments / 0