As of October 27, 2026, about 39% of the United States is in drought (categories D1 to D4) and another 19% is abnormally dry. Plantmaps has interactive drought maps for the United States, Canada and Mexico, and for every US state and Canadian province, each with the share of the area in each drought category and the current status of its cities and towns.
Jump to: United States Canada Mexico Drought categories FAQ
The states with the largest share of their area in drought (D1 to D4), as of October 27, 2026:
United States current drought conditions map. 39% of the United States is in drought and 19% is abnormally dry, as of October 27, 2026 (updated weekly).
| State | In drought (D1–D4) | Abnormally dry (D0) | Most severe category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 34% | 36% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Alaska | 0% | 1% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| Arizona | 34% | 35% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Arkansas | 97% | 3% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| California | 18% | 52% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Colorado | 50% | 15% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Connecticut | 0% | 0% | None |
| Delaware | 9% | 19% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| District of Columbia | 0% | 90% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| Florida | 19% | 26% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Georgia | 22% | 42% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Hawaii | 0% | 6% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| Idaho | 66% | 18% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Illinois | 28% | 27% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Indiana | 16% | 56% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Iowa | 0% | 1% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| Kansas | 21% | 27% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Kentucky | 16% | 39% | D2 Severe Drought |
| Louisiana | 79% | 10% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Maine | 91% | <1% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Maryland | 13% | 44% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Massachusetts | 3% | 16% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Michigan | 21% | 16% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Minnesota | 61% | 17% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Mississippi | 87% | 8% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Missouri | 47% | 21% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Montana | 19% | 17% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Nebraska | 35% | 19% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Nevada | 95% | 5% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| New Hampshire | 32% | 60% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| New Jersey | 0% | 25% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| New Mexico | 52% | 38% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| New York | 1% | 34% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| North Carolina | 57% | 16% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| North Dakota | 52% | 19% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Ohio | 0% | 13% | D0 Abnormally Dry |
| Oklahoma | 87% | 13% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Oregon | 87% | 10% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Pennsylvania | <1% | 12% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Puerto Rico | 17% | 4% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Rhode Island | 0% | 0% | None |
| South Carolina | 44% | 30% | D2 Severe Drought |
| South Dakota | 52% | 32% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Tennessee | 71% | 21% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Texas | 67% | 22% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Utah | 91% | 9% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Vermont | 14% | 67% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Virginia | 24% | 28% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Washington | 58% | 31% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| West Virginia | <1% | 2% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Wisconsin | 44% | 5% | D4 Exceptional Drought |
| Wyoming | 85% | 15% | D3 Extreme Drought |
Canada current drought conditions map. 33% of Canada is in drought and 18% is abnormally dry, as of October 2026 (updated monthly).
| Province or Territory | In drought (D1–D4) | Abnormally dry (D0) | Most severe category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5% | 10% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| British Columbia | 52% | 27% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Manitoba | 38% | 31% | D2 Severe Drought |
| New Brunswick | 59% | 21% | D1 Moderate Drought |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 67% | 5% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Nova Scotia | 0% | 0% | None |
| Ontario | 55% | 20% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Prince Edward Island | 0% | 0% | None |
| Quebec | 57% | 22% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Saskatchewan | 17% | 23% | D3 Extreme Drought |
| Yukon Territory | 8% | 38% | D1 Moderate Drought |
Mexico current drought conditions map. 10% of Mexico is in drought and 19% is abnormally dry, as of October 2026 (updated monthly).
All of the maps use the same five categories, shown in these colours:
| Category | Typical impacts |
|---|---|
| D0 Abnormally Dry | Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting and growth of crops or pastures. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits. |
| D1 Moderate Drought | Some damage to crops and pastures; streams, reservoirs or wells low; some water shortages developing; voluntary water-use restrictions requested. |
| D2 Severe Drought | Crop or pasture losses likely; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed. |
| D3 Extreme Drought | Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages or restrictions. |
| D4 Exceptional Drought | Exceptional and widespread crop and pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells, creating water emergencies. |
A drought map shows whether the dryness in your garden is local or part of a regional drought, and how severe it is. In drought, newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials are the most at risk, so many gardeners delay fall planting until rain returns, and lawns may go dormant. Check your frost dates before planting late in the season, choose plants suited to your hardiness zone, and consider native plants from your ecoregion, which are adapted to its normal rainfall.
Drought monitors rate conditions on a five-step scale. D0 (Abnormally Dry) is not drought but marks areas going into or coming out of it. D1 (Moderate), D2 (Severe), D3 (Extreme) and D4 (Exceptional) are increasingly intense drought, judged from rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow and reported impacts.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is released every Thursday, using data up to the Tuesday before. The Canadian and North American drought monitors are released monthly. The maps here show the latest release: October 27, 2026 for the United States and October 2026 for Canada and Mexico.
Open the map for your state or province below and click your location, or use the city and town list on each map page. Each page shows the share of the area in each drought category.
Water deeply and less often, early in the morning, so roots grow down; mulch beds to keep moisture in the soil; put off planting or transplanting until rain returns; and check for local watering restrictions, which usually start at D1 or D2. Native and drought-tolerant plants suited to your area need the least extra water.