Counties with the worst droughts in Kentucky
Published 5:46 pm Friday, July 19, 2024
Counties with the worst droughts in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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.
You may also like: Best colleges in Kentucky
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Kentucky statistics
– Abnormally dry: 45.0%
– Area in drought: 13.5% (#24 nationally)
— Moderate drought: 13.5%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Michele Korfhage // Shutterstock
Spencer County
– Abnormally dry: 74.8%
– Area in drought: 25.2%
— Moderate drought: 25.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Nicholas County
– Abnormally dry: 70.0%
– Area in drought: 30.0%
— Moderate drought: 30.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Jackson County
– Abnormally dry: 64.4%
– Area in drought: 35.6%
— Moderate drought: 35.6%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Green County
– Abnormally dry: 54.9%
– Area in drought: 42.7%
— Moderate drought: 42.7%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: The biggest health care data breaches you should know about in Kentucky
Canva
Marion County
– Abnormally dry: 56.2%
– Area in drought: 43.8%
— Moderate drought: 43.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
Franklin County
– Abnormally dry: 39.0%
– Area in drought: 45.7%
— Moderate drought: 45.7%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Letcher County
– Abnormally dry: 54.1%
– Area in drought: 45.9%
— Moderate drought: 45.9%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
anthony heflin // Shutterstock
Harlan County
– Abnormally dry: 45.5%
– Area in drought: 54.5%
— Moderate drought: 54.5%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Fayette County
– Abnormally dry: 44.0%
– Area in drought: 56.0%
— Moderate drought: 56.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Metros where renters are the most overextended in Kentucky
Canva
Jessamine County
– Abnormally dry: 43.8%
– Area in drought: 56.2%
— Moderate drought: 56.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock
Harrison County
– Abnormally dry: 25.3%
– Area in drought: 58.9%
— Moderate drought: 58.9%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Ryan_hoel // Shutterstock
Nelson County
– Abnormally dry: 36.3%
– Area in drought: 63.7%
— Moderate drought: 63.7%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Madison County
– Abnormally dry: 29.3%
– Area in drought: 70.7%
— Moderate drought: 70.7%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock
Scott County
– Abnormally dry: 15.2%
– Area in drought: 71.8%
— Moderate drought: 71.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Kentucky ranks #16 in mental health care deserts
Canva
Washington County
– Abnormally dry: 24.9%
– Area in drought: 75.1%
— Moderate drought: 75.1%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Casey County
– Abnormally dry: 24.2%
– Area in drought: 75.8%
— Moderate drought: 75.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
hw22 // Shutterstock
Taylor County
– Abnormally dry: 7.2%
– Area in drought: 92.8%
— Moderate drought: 92.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Canva
Robertson County
– Abnormally dry: 5.5%
– Area in drought: 94.5%
— Moderate drought: 94.5%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock
Rockcastle County
– Abnormally dry: 1.5%
– Area in drought: 98.5%
— Moderate drought: 98.5%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%
You may also like: Counties in Kentucky with more precipitation over the past year than average
Ivelin Denev // Shutterstock
Woodford 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%
Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock
Mercer 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%
Canva
Lincoln 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%
Canva
Garrard 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%
Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock
Boyle 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%
You may also like: Highest-rated beer in Kentucky
Canva
Anderson 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%
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 31 states.