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 Oregon with the worst droughts in the week leading up to May 02, 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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Oregon statistics

– Abnormally dry: 20.1%
– Area in drought: 56.3% (#6 nationally)
— Moderate drought: 34.0%
— Severe drought: 16.5%
— Extreme drought: 5.8%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#22. Union County

– Abnormally dry: 5.3%
– Area in drought: 0.1%
— Moderate drought: 0.1%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#21. Clackamas County

– Abnormally dry: 22.8%
– Area in drought: 1.1%
— Moderate drought: 1.1%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#20. Morrow County

– Abnormally dry: 51.0%
– Area in drought: 2.1%
— Moderate drought: 2.1%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#19. Marion County

– Abnormally dry: 16.7%
– Area in drought: 10.9%
— Moderate drought: 10.9%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#18. Malheur County

– Abnormally dry: 64.1%
– Area in drought: 14.8%
— Moderate drought: 14.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#17. Linn County

– Abnormally dry: 57.0%
– Area in drought: 26.4%
— Moderate drought: 26.4%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#16. Douglas County

– Abnormally dry: 50.7%
– Area in drought: 36.2%
— Moderate drought: 36.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#15. Lane County

– Abnormally dry: 37.6%
– Area in drought: 45.7%
— Moderate drought: 45.7%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Arpad Jasko // Shutterstock

#14. Gilliam County

– Abnormally dry: 38.7%
– Area in drought: 56.6%
— Moderate drought: 39.0%
— Severe drought: 17.6%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#13. Wallowa County

– Abnormally dry: 11.2%
– Area in drought: 69.2%
— Moderate drought: 69.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#12. Wasco County

– Abnormally dry: 20.4%
– Area in drought: 79.3%
— Moderate drought: 29.4%
— Severe drought: 49.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Dominic Gentilcore PhD // Shutterstock

#11. Lake County

– Abnormally dry: 9.3%
– Area in drought: 90.7%
— Moderate drought: 49.9%
— Severe drought: 40.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.6%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#10. Jackson County

– Abnormally dry: 9.2%
– Area in drought: 90.8%
— Moderate drought: 90.8%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#9. Baker County

– Abnormally dry: 5.8%
– Area in drought: 93.2%
— Moderate drought: 93.2%
— Severe drought: 0.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#8. Grant County

– Abnormally dry: 5.5%
– Area in drought: 94.2%
— Moderate drought: 45.7%
— Severe drought: 34.9%
— Extreme drought: 13.6%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#7. Sherman County

– Abnormally dry: 5.4%
– Area in drought: 94.6%
— Moderate drought: 41.1%
— Severe drought: 53.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#6. Harney County

– Abnormally dry: 4.0%
– Area in drought: 96.0%
— Moderate drought: 67.0%
— Severe drought: 22.2%
— Extreme drought: 6.8%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Jefferson County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 22.8%
— Severe drought: 56.6%
— Extreme drought: 20.7%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Deschutes County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 47.3%
— Severe drought: 31.6%
— Extreme drought: 21.2%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Crook County (tie)

– 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%

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#1. Klamath County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 35.1%
— Severe drought: 64.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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#1. Wheeler County (tie)

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 29.8%
— Severe drought: 57.2%
— Extreme drought: 12.9%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Stacker

Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.