Counties with the worst droughts in Iowa
About 17% of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Winter storms 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. New Mexico currently is the state with the highest drought level, covering nearly 75% 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 Iowa with the worst droughts in the week leading up to April 9, 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 which are not experiencing drought are not included in the list. Counties are listed in order of drought severity.
Iowa statistics
- Abnormally dry: 18.0%
- Area in drought: 67.3% (#2 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 35.2%
--- Severe drought: 21.6%
--- Extreme drought: 10.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wapello 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%
Taylor 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%
Story 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%
Shelby 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%
Ringgold 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%
Pottawattamie 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%
Page 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%
Montgomery 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%
Mills 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%
Guthrie 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%
Greene 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%
Fremont 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%
Dallas 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%
Cass 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%
Carroll 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%
Boone 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%
Audubon 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%
Adams 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%
Adair 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%
Union County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 96.2%
--- Severe drought: 3.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hamilton County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 88.1%
--- Severe drought: 11.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Monroe County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 81.6%
--- Severe drought: 18.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Polk County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 79.6%
--- Severe drought: 20.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marshall County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 59.0%
--- Severe drought: 41.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Keokuk County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 56.6%
--- Severe drought: 43.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Madison County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 51.6%
--- Severe drought: 48.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Lucas 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%
Clarke County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 34.0%
--- Severe drought: 66.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Allamakee County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 29.2%
--- Severe drought: 70.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Hardin County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 19.0%
--- Severe drought: 81.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Wright County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 13.9%
--- Severe drought: 86.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Jasper County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 9.7%
--- Severe drought: 90.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Mahaska County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 6.9%
--- Severe drought: 93.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Warren County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 3.2%
--- Severe drought: 96.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Marion 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%
Grundy 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%
Winneshiek County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 99.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Worth County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 8.7%
--- Severe drought: 89.9%
--- Extreme drought: 1.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Poweshiek County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 92.0%
--- Extreme drought: 8.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Franklin County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 76.6%
--- Extreme drought: 23.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Butler County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 69.7%
--- Extreme drought: 30.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Howard County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 62.5%
--- Extreme drought: 37.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Iowa County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 14.2%
--- Severe drought: 45.2%
--- Extreme drought: 40.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Cerro Gordo County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 51.9%
--- Extreme drought: 48.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Mitchell County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 48.4%
--- Extreme drought: 51.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Fayette County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 42.7%
--- Extreme drought: 57.3%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Tama County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 42.3%
--- Extreme drought: 57.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Linn County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 40.6%
--- Extreme drought: 59.4%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Black Hawk County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 24.0%
--- Extreme drought: 76.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Bremer County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 8.9%
--- Extreme drought: 91.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Chickasaw County
- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 1.5%
--- Extreme drought: 98.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%
Floyd 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%
Buchanan 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%
Benton 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 28 states.
