Counties with the worst droughts in Kentucky

Published 5:04 pm Friday, September 27, 2024

Counties with the worst droughts in Kentucky

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 Kentucky 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.

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Emma Rubin // Stacker

Kentucky statistics

– Abnormally dry: 27.1%
– Area in drought: 66.7% (#5 nationally)
— Moderate drought: 35.9%
— Severe drought: 27.9%
— Extreme drought: 3.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Michele Korfhage // Shutterstock

Spencer 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%

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Pike 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%

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Monroe 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%

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Jefferson 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%

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Hancock 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%

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Fulton 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%

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Floyd 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%

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Bullitt 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%

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Bracken 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%

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Harrison County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 98.8%
— Severe drought: 1.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Marion County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 96.9%
— Severe drought: 3.1%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Magoffin County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 95.1%
— Severe drought: 4.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Nelson County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 94.3%
— Severe drought: 5.7%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Webster County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 92.8%
— Severe drought: 7.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Crittenden County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 90.8%
— Severe drought: 9.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hickman County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 90.1%
— Severe drought: 9.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Oldham County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 90.1%
— Severe drought: 9.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hopkins County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 77.6%
— Severe drought: 22.4%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Henderson County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 71.8%
— Severe drought: 28.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Meade County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 69.0%
— Severe drought: 31.1%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Pendleton County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 68.0%
— Severe drought: 32.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Livingston County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 56.8%
— Severe drought: 43.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Breckinridge County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 56.4%
— Severe drought: 43.6%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Campbell County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 52.3%
— Severe drought: 47.7%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Elliott County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 49.7%
— Severe drought: 50.3%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hardin County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 34.1%
— Severe drought: 65.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Caldwell County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 29.5%
— Severe drought: 70.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Scott County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 26.4%
— Severe drought: 73.6%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Larue County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 26.2%
— Severe drought: 73.8%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Johnson County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 24.5%
— Severe drought: 75.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Carlisle County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 20.6%
— Severe drought: 79.4%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Daviess County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 19.1%
— Severe drought: 80.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Ohio County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 19.1%
— Severe drought: 80.9%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Graves County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 16.0%
— Severe drought: 84.0%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Logan County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 15.9%
— Severe drought: 84.1%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Muhlenberg 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%

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Grant County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 6.8%
— Severe drought: 93.2%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Simpson County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 5.5%
— Severe drought: 94.5%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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McLean County

– Abnormally dry: 0.0%
– Area in drought: 100.0%
— Moderate drought: 3.9%
— Severe drought: 96.1%
— Extreme drought: 0.0%
— Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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