(TLP:CLEAR) More than Half of U.S. Gripped by Drought, Leading to Water Restrictions and Increasing Wildfire Risk

Summary: The U.S. is experiencing one of its most widespread and intense droughts in decades, with over 60% of the country affected. Intense drought conditions are leading some states and local governments to enact water restrictions and heightening the risk of wildfires.

Analyst Note: The drought is unusually broad, impacting multiple regions at once across the country. Close to 63% of the U.S. is experiencing drought conditions of varying intensity, only 2% less than the record set in 2012, which was the most widespread drought this century. The Southeast, spanning from Texas to the East Coast, has been severely affected, with certain regions facing almost total drought coverage. At the same time, many areas in the West are dealing with severe or even exceptional drought conditions. Just two states in the U.S. are not experiencing drought conditions.

In the West, a major driver of the drought is a lack of winter snowpack. Record heat caused precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow, leaving rivers and reservoirs undersupplied heading into summer. Separately, from Texas to the East Coast, a northern shift in the jet stream has pushed storms and the precipitation they bring further north. Drought conditions are already leading to impacts across multiple sectors of the economy. As of late April 2026, water restrictions are in place across several U.S. states. This includes, but is not limited to, Colorado, the Carolinas, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. The City of Corpus Christi in Texas, for instance, is reportedly considering declaring a water emergency and at least six smaller municipalities in the Coastal Bend region of Texas issued disaster declarations in the last two weeks.

The agricultural sector is also under strain, with diminished crop yields and rising costs likely to result in higher food prices. The risk of wildfires has increased significantly, as dry vegetation and low humidity create ideal conditions for fire outbreaks in both western and southeastern states. Indeed, the wildfires currently burning in parts of Florida and Georgia are being fueled by these drought conditions. Amid these conditions, members are encouraged to assess their organization’s current drought procedures. Several EPA resources and guidance documents are available to help water utilities strengthen their operational resilience in the face of drought, see the mitigation section below.

Original Sources:

• https://apnews.com/article/drought-us-food-prices-wildfire-water-supply-3625f832e5122c988904fc66d39906f7
• https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/23/weather/us-drought-worst-in-decades-wildfires-climate
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/04/29/us-drought-worsens/  

Additional Reading:

• (TLP:CLEAR) New USGS Tool Provides AI-Powered Drought Forecasts

Mitigation Recommendations:

• Drought Monitor – Water Utilities
• EPA – Drought Resilience and Water Conservation
• EPA – Incident Action Checklist – Drought

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16 & 17