Counties with the worst droughts in Kansas

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 Kansas 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.

Emma Rubin // Stacker

Kansas statistics

- Abnormally dry: 34.1%
- Area in drought: 18.4% (#20 nationally)
--- Moderate drought: 14.5%
--- Severe drought: 3.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Lincoln County

- Abnormally dry: 60.1%
- Area in drought: 24.1%
--- Moderate drought: 24.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Pratt County

- Abnormally dry: 70.8%
- Area in drought: 29.2%
--- Moderate drought: 29.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Pawnee County

- Abnormally dry: 40.6%
- Area in drought: 33.8%
--- Moderate drought: 24.8%
--- Severe drought: 9.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Jewell County

- Abnormally dry: 15.3%
- Area in drought: 34.6%
--- Moderate drought: 34.6%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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barteverett // Shutterstock

Hodgeman County

- Abnormally dry: 44.5%
- Area in drought: 40.4%
--- Moderate drought: 17.9%
--- Severe drought: 22.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Wallace County

- Abnormally dry: 56.4%
- Area in drought: 40.8%
--- Moderate drought: 40.8%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Haskell County

- Abnormally dry: 26.6%
- Area in drought: 44.7%
--- Moderate drought: 44.7%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Thomas County

- Abnormally dry: 51.3%
- Area in drought: 47.8%
--- Moderate drought: 47.8%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Rice County

- Abnormally dry: 36.1%
- Area in drought: 52.1%
--- Moderate drought: 52.1%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Ness County

- Abnormally dry: 46.0%
- Area in drought: 53.8%
--- Moderate drought: 34.7%
--- Severe drought: 19.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Ellis County

- Abnormally dry: 45.7%
- Area in drought: 54.3%
--- Moderate drought: 42.0%
--- Severe drought: 12.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hamilton County

- Abnormally dry: 43.2%
- Area in drought: 56.8%
--- Moderate drought: 55.8%
--- Severe drought: 1.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Osborne County

- Abnormally dry: 26.9%
- Area in drought: 60.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Mitchell County

- Abnormally dry: 12.2%
- Area in drought: 73.5%
--- Moderate drought: 73.5%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

Sedgwick County

- Abnormally dry: 22.7%
- Area in drought: 77.3%
--- Moderate drought: 37.4%
--- Severe drought: 39.8%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Sherman County

- Abnormally dry: 19.8%
- Area in drought: 80.2%
--- Moderate drought: 80.2%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Michael Rosebrock // Shutterstock

Kearny County

- Abnormally dry: 16.8%
- Area in drought: 80.8%
--- Moderate drought: 73.1%
--- Severe drought: 7.7%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Stephanie L Bishop // Shutterstock

Barton County

- Abnormally dry: 15.0%
- Area in drought: 85.0%
--- Moderate drought: 78.3%
--- Severe drought: 6.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Russell County

- Abnormally dry: 13.6%
- Area in drought: 86.4%
--- Moderate drought: 78.3%
--- Severe drought: 8.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Harvey County

- Abnormally dry: 13.3%
- Area in drought: 86.7%
--- Moderate drought: 35.9%
--- Severe drought: 50.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

Reno County

- Abnormally dry: 7.0%
- Area in drought: 93.0%
--- Moderate drought: 30.1%
--- Severe drought: 63.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

Kingman County

- Abnormally dry: 6.7%
- Area in drought: 93.3%
--- Moderate drought: 74.0%
--- Severe drought: 19.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Patrick Jennings // Shutterstock

Grant County

- Abnormally dry: 4.3%
- Area in drought: 95.7%
--- Moderate drought: 55.3%
--- Severe drought: 40.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Stanton County

- Abnormally dry: 4.2%
- Area in drought: 95.8%
--- Moderate drought: 86.6%
--- Severe drought: 9.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Rush County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 33.8%
--- Severe drought: 66.2%
--- 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.