Indiana drought

Is Morgan County in a drought?

No drought

No. Morgan County has no drought and no abnormally dry areas on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 22, 2026. It was last in drought the week of Nov 18, 2025.

Map valid Sep 22, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Oct 1, 2026. Statewide, 0% of Indiana is in drought.

Morgan County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for Indiana, valid Sep 22, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of Indiana for Sep 22, 2026, shaded D0 abnormally dry through D4 exceptional drought
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought

Open the live map with the Drought Monitor

Map courtesy of the US Drought Monitor, NDMC-UNL, with USDA and NOAA. Original at droughtmonitor.unl.edu

This week's map, by category

Percent of Morgan County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 0%, D1 0%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 100%.

CategoryThis weekSep 22Last weekSep 153 months agoJun 23A year agoSep 23
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse0%0%0%100%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse0%0%0%72.8%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse0%0%0%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%0%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None100%100%100%0%

The past year

Percent of Morgan County in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.

Percent of Morgan County in drought categories from Sep 23, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%OctNovDec2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
MapD0+D1+D2+D3+D4+
Sep 22, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Sep 15, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Sep 8, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Sep 1, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Aug 25, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Aug 18, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Aug 11, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Aug 4, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 28, 202649.3%0%0%0%0%
Jul 21, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 14, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 7, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 30, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 23, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 16, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 9, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 2, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 26, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 19, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 12, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 5, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 28, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 21, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 14, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 7, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 31, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 24, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 17, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 10, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 3, 202668.9%0%0%0%0%
Feb 24, 202668.9%0%0%0%0%
Feb 17, 202668.7%0%0%0%0%
Feb 10, 202668.7%0%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 202668.7%0%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 202668.7%0%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 202666.6%0%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 20268.1%0%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 202615.6%0%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 202515.6%0%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 202586.5%9.7%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 202586.5%9.7%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 202586.7%9.7%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 2025100%9.7%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 2025100%7.1%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 2025100%5.7%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%72.8%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 2025100%72.8%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 2025100%72.8%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Morgan County since January 2000.

Percent of Morgan County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%200420082012201620202024
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
YearWorst categoryMost in droughtWeek ofWeeks with drought
2026D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 38
2025D1 Moderate drought72.8%Sep 1610 of 52
2024D1 Moderate drought100%Jan 29 of 53
2023D2 Severe drought100%Jan 323 of 52
2022D1 Moderate drought100%Nov 814 of 52
2021D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2020D1 Moderate drought100%Sep 298 of 52
2019D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2018D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2017D1 Moderate drought77.4%Sep 196 of 52
2016D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought100%Oct 2711 of 52
2014None0%0 of 52
2013D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2012D4 Exceptional drought100%Jun 1917 of 52
2011D2 Severe drought100%Aug 237 of 52
2010D2 Severe drought100%Oct 1210 of 52
2009None0%0 of 52
2008D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2007D2 Severe drought100%Jun 1915 of 52
2006D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2005D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2004D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2003D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2002D1 Moderate drought38.4%Sep 242 of 53
2001D2 Severe drought100%May 84 of 52
2000D2 Severe drought100%Jan 420 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Morgan County was in drought on 11% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the county the week of Aug 7, 2012.

Weeks with some drought
156 of 1,395 (11%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Aug 7, 2012
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Nov 5, 2024
Longest spell
20 weeks, Jan 4, 2000 to May 16, 2000
Last in drought
Week of Nov 18, 2025

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Morgan County: whether drought is expected to develop, persist, improve or end.

Monthly outlook, Sep 2026
No drought expected
Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 17)
No drought expected

The monthly outlook is issued on the last day of each month, the seasonal one on the third Thursday. CPC's discussion.

What drought has meant in Indiana

The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Indiana at each level of drought.

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Dryland crops and rangeland are stressed
  • Lawns are brown; gardens are watered more frequently

D1 Moderate drought

  • Blue-green algae blooms appear
  • Creek and pond levels are low
  • Crop growth is stunted; supplemental feed for livestock begins

D2 Severe drought

  • Corn and soybeans are in poor condition; irrigation increases; hay and crop yields are low
  • County-level burn bans are implemented; brush fires occur more frequently
  • Creeks, ponds and wetlands are dry; lake levels drop; well levels are low; water restrictions begin
  • Lawns go dormant
  • Wildlife encroach on urban areas for water

D3 Extreme drought

  • Corn is a total loss with no ears; corn is cut for feed; soybeans are severely dry; supplemental hay for livestock is increased; other row crops are impacted
  • Farmers’ markets are curtailed or canceled
  • Fireworks are banned; fire departments are strained
  • Gardening businesses struggle
  • Lake and reservoir levels are very low
  • Trees and shrubs show drought stress or are dying; deer disease increases; fish kills occur; vegetation is dying

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Communities and businesses tied to water activities and agriculture experience economic losses
  • Farmers sell cattle; feed costs are high; producers haul hay from outside of the state
  • Water restrictions are implemented statewide; water shortage warnings are issued statewide

Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.

Burn bans and water restrictions

The Drought Monitor does not issue burn bans or water restrictions. Morgan County's officials, the state forestry or fire agency, and local water utilities set them, often once drought reaches D2 or dry fuels raise the fire danger. Check the county's emergency management office or fire marshal for a ban in force, and the alerts page for red flag warnings and fire weather watches.

This week in the Midwest

The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 22, 2026, released Sep 24, 2026.

Southern Missouri was generally hot and dry this past week, with drought conditions deteriorating over much of the region. However, northern Missouri was wet leading to improvement in drought conditions. Southern Minnesota, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota received significant precipitation, with over 8 inches falling in northeast Grant County, Wisconsin. The dry categories were thus improved in these areas. Northern Wisconsin, on the other hand, was dry with localized deterioration and the introduction of a small area of exceptional drought.

Looking ahead

The next five days are forecast to be wet along the northeastern coast from a nor’easter. The northwest is also predicted to receive needed precipitation. Remnants of a tropical system will provide significant moisture into the Four Corners states and the western Great Plains with heavy rainfall in the forecast. Parts of the northern Great Plains are also forecast to receive welcome precipitation. Areas with little rain in the forecast over the next five days are much of Texas and Louisiana, around the Great Lakes, and California and Nevada. The south and southwest should continue to have above normal temperatures, with cooler temperatures in the northeast and the northwest.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 29 to October 3) favors above normal temperatures over the southern half of the continental U.S. as well as the northeast. Hawaii is also likely to have above normal temperatures. The Great Basin area could have below normal rainfall, while above normal is possible over much of the central U.S. Both Hawaii and eastern Alaska are also favored to have above normal precipitation during this period.

Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.

What this means

The five categories the Drought Monitor draws, and how the map is made.

D0 Abnormally dry
Going into or coming out of drought.
D1 Moderate drought
Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.
D2 Severe drought
Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.
D3 Extreme drought
Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.
D4 Exceptional drought
Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.

The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.

Nearby

The counties bordering Morgan County, with the worst category on this week's map.

Sources

Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.