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Counties with the worst droughts in Alabama

Over a fourth of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

While severe to exceptional drought conditions persist in the West—which is currently experiencing a brief reprieve from its driest period of the last 1,200 years—other parts of the country less associated with drought, like the northeast and the midwest, have also experienced spells of unusual dryness.

In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems too feel the effects, and shrinking water supplies impact agriculture, hydropower generation, and 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 U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in Alabama with the worst droughts in the week leading up to April 18, 2023. Counties are ranked by 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 included.

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Alabama statistics

– Abnormally dry: 19.6%
– Area in drought: 0.0% (#31 nationally, tie)
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Dallas County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 0.1%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Conecuh County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 95.2%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Bullock County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 93.2%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Escambia County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 87.9%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Mobile County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 83.3%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Barbour County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 76.1%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Baldwin County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 75.9%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Crenshaw County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 75.2%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Montgomery County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 72.0%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Pike County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 66.1%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Lowndes County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 61.9%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Washington County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 47.4%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Wilcox County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 36.1%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Clarke County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 18.7%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Russell County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 7.2%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Covington County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 4.0%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Henry County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 2.6%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Macon County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 1.0%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Monroe County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 99.8%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Butler County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 99.9%
– Area in drought: 0.0%
— Moderate drought: 0.0%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%