Over one-third 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 all 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 Ohio with the worst droughts as of Sept. 24, 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. 1 / 70 Emma Rubin // Stacker Ohio statistics - Abnormally dry: 10.3%- Area in drought: 87.7% (#2 nationally)--- Moderate drought: 23.4%--- Severe drought: 28.5%--- Extreme drought: 23.1%--- Exceptional drought: 12.6% 2 / 70 Nagel Photography // Shutterstock Van Wert 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% 3 / 70 CourtneySimons // 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% 4 / 70 Canva Darke 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% 5 / 70 Bravo Charlie Productions // Shutterstock Allen 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% 6 / 70 Canva Preble County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 96.2%--- Severe drought: 3.9%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 7 / 70 Joshua D'Ariano // Shutterstock Hancock County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 95.7%--- Severe drought: 4.3%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 8 / 70 Canva Putnam County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 87.1%--- Severe drought: 12.9%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 9 / 70 Canva Auglaize County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 84.3%--- Severe drought: 15.7%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 10 / 70 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock Williams County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 54.9%--- Severe drought: 45.1%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 11 / 70 Anne Kitzman // Shutterstock Paulding County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 54.4%--- Severe drought: 45.6%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 12 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Columbiana County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 54.0%--- Severe drought: 46.0%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 13 / 70 Donna Wickerham // Shutterstock Richland County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 36.9%--- Severe drought: 63.1%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 14 / 70 Canva Crawford County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 36.8%--- Severe drought: 63.2%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 15 / 70 Canva Ottawa County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 29.3%--- Severe drought: 70.7%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 16 / 70 Canva Shelby County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 21.4%--- Severe drought: 78.6%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 17 / 70 Canva Wyandot County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 20.5%--- Severe drought: 79.5%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 18 / 70 Canva Hardin County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 19.5%--- Severe drought: 80.5%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 19 / 70 Rosamar // Shutterstock Wood County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 18.0%--- Severe drought: 82.0%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 20 / 70 Canva Mahoning County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 17.5%--- Severe drought: 82.5%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 21 / 70 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock Fulton County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 13.7%--- Severe drought: 86.3%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 22 / 70 Canva Holmes County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 1.4%--- Severe drought: 98.6%--- Extreme drought: 0.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 23 / 70 Canva Morrow 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% 24 / 70 James W. Thompson // Shutterstock 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% 25 / 70 Michael Shake // Shutterstock Lucas 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% 26 / 70 Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock Knox 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% 27 / 70 Canva Henry 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% 28 / 70 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock Defiance 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% 29 / 70 dvgpro // Shutterstock Delaware County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 99.8%--- Extreme drought: 0.2%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 30 / 70 ADC Bradley // Shutterstock Brown County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 91.2%--- Severe drought: 6.7%--- Extreme drought: 2.1%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 31 / 70 Canva Clermont County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 81.7%--- Severe drought: 11.4%--- Extreme drought: 6.9%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 32 / 70 Canva Logan County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 87.0%--- Extreme drought: 13.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 33 / 70 Madison Muskopf // Shutterstock Coshocton County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 85.2%--- Extreme drought: 14.8%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 34 / 70 Aiwilliams // Shutterstock Carroll County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 75.8%--- Extreme drought: 24.2%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 35 / 70 Canva Miami County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 9.5%--- Severe drought: 60.9%--- Extreme drought: 29.6%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 36 / 70 Canva Union County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 54.9%--- Extreme drought: 45.1%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 37 / 70 photo.ua // Shutterstock Hamilton County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 5.8%--- Severe drought: 36.5%--- Extreme drought: 57.6%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 38 / 70 Canva Montgomery County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 7.9%--- Severe drought: 32.9%--- Extreme drought: 59.2%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 39 / 70 Canva Butler County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 14.1%--- Severe drought: 16.3%--- Extreme drought: 69.5%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 40 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Gallia County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 5.0%--- Severe drought: 12.2%--- Extreme drought: 82.7%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 41 / 70 James Marciniak // Shutterstock Clark County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 5.8%--- Extreme drought: 94.2%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 42 / 70 Canva Champaign County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 4.2%--- Extreme drought: 95.8%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 43 / 70 Almal3xia // Shutterstock Greene County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 1.6%--- Extreme drought: 98.4%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 44 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Clinton County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 1.1%--- Extreme drought: 98.9%--- Exceptional drought: 0.0% 45 / 70 Kilmer Media // Shutterstock Warren 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% 46 / 70 Canva Washington 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% 47 / 70 James Marciniak // Shutterstock Jackson County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 10.0%--- Severe drought: 25.0%--- Extreme drought: 64.8%--- Exceptional drought: 0.2% 48 / 70 BLAZE Pro // Shutterstock Tuscarawas County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 47.2%--- Extreme drought: 52.0%--- Exceptional drought: 0.8% 49 / 70 Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock Madison County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 57.4%--- Extreme drought: 40.7%--- Exceptional drought: 1.9% 50 / 70 Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock Licking County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 48.6%--- Extreme drought: 45.1%--- Exceptional drought: 6.3% 51 / 70 Canva Jefferson County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 26.9%--- Severe drought: 41.2%--- Extreme drought: 22.9%--- Exceptional drought: 8.9% 52 / 70 Canva Pike County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 1.8%--- Severe drought: 29.2%--- Extreme drought: 57.3%--- Exceptional drought: 11.8% 53 / 70 Canva Fayette County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 6.8%--- Extreme drought: 75.2%--- Exceptional drought: 18.1% 54 / 70 Canva Highland County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 5.5%--- Severe drought: 25.6%--- Extreme drought: 50.3%--- Exceptional drought: 18.6% 55 / 70 arthurgphotography // Shutterstock Hocking County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 80.9%--- Exceptional drought: 19.1% 56 / 70 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Franklin County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 30.4%--- Extreme drought: 47.0%--- Exceptional drought: 22.6% 57 / 70 Canva Monroe County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 72.1%--- Exceptional drought: 27.9% 58 / 70 Canva Meigs County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 62.8%--- Exceptional drought: 37.2% 59 / 70 The American Explorer // Shutterstock Vinton County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 56.4%--- Exceptional drought: 43.6% 60 / 70 Canva Muskingum County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 2.9%--- Extreme drought: 48.8%--- Exceptional drought: 48.3% 61 / 70 Canva Ross County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 43.1%--- Exceptional drought: 56.9% 62 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Harrison County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 38.0%--- Exceptional drought: 62.0% 63 / 70 Eric Glenn // Shutterstock Fairfield County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 34.0%--- Exceptional drought: 66.0% 64 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Belmont County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 26.8%--- Exceptional drought: 73.2% 65 / 70 Canva Guernsey County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 15.4%--- Exceptional drought: 84.6% 66 / 70 Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock Noble County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 15.1%--- Exceptional drought: 84.9% 67 / 70 Wendy van Overstreet // Shutterstock Athens County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 11.6%--- Exceptional drought: 88.4% 68 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Pickaway County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 8.7%--- Exceptional drought: 91.3% 69 / 70 Canva Morgan County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 8.0%--- Exceptional drought: 92.0% 70 / 70 JNix // Shutterstock Perry County - Abnormally dry: 0.0%- Area in drought: 100.0%--- Moderate drought: 0.0%--- Severe drought: 0.0%--- Extreme drought: 1.6%--- Exceptional drought: 98.4% This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 45 states.