Kentucky drought

Is Robertson County in a drought?

No drought

No. Robertson County has no drought and no abnormally dry areas on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026. It was last in drought the week of May 19, 2026.

Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. Statewide, 0% of Kentucky is in drought.

Robertson County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for Kentucky, valid Sep 15, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of Kentucky for Sep 15, 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 Robertson 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 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse0%0%0%100%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse0%0%0%100%
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 Robertson County in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.

Percent of Robertson County in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 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 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, 20260%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, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
May 12, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
May 5, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Apr 14, 2026100%16.3%0%0%0%
Apr 7, 202618.1%0%0%0%0%
Mar 31, 202618.1%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, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Feb 24, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Feb 17, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Feb 10, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Sep 16, 2025100%100%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Robertson County since January 2000.

Percent of Robertson County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 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
2026D1 Moderate drought100%Apr 216 of 37
2025D1 Moderate drought100%Sep 24 of 52
2024D1 Moderate drought100%Aug 2710 of 53
2023D1 Moderate drought100%Jun 66 of 52
2022D2 Severe drought100%Oct 258 of 52
2021D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2020D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2019D1 Moderate drought100%Oct 11 of 53
2018None0%0 of 52
2017None0%0 of 52
2016D2 Severe drought100%Nov 87 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought4.6%Feb 104 of 52
2014D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2013None0%0 of 53
2012D1 Moderate drought100%Jun 265 of 52
2011D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2010D2 Severe drought100%Sep 2111 of 52
2009D1 Moderate drought100%Jan 62 of 52
2008D1 Moderate drought100%Oct 1415 of 53
2007D3 Extreme drought100%Jun 522 of 52
2006D1 Moderate drought81.1%Jan 35 of 52
2005D2 Severe drought100%Aug 918 of 52
2004None0%0 of 52
2003None0%0 of 52
2002D2 Severe drought100%Aug 137 of 53
2001D1 Moderate drought100%May 17 of 52
2000D1 Moderate drought100%Jan 46 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Robertson County was in drought on 10% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000.

Weeks with some drought
144 of 1,394 (10%)
Worst category reached
D3 Extreme drought, last the week of Oct 16, 2007
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of May 19, 2026
Longest spell
22 weeks, May 29, 2007 to Oct 23, 2007
Last in drought
Week of May 19, 2026

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Robertson 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 Kentucky

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

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Crops and pastures show mild stress
  • Lawns and vegetation are brown

D1 Moderate drought

  • Burn bans are issued; wildfires are reported
  • Crops and pastures show stress; corn germination is poor
  • Increased algae and fungus growth is noted
  • Trees begin to show mild stress

D2 Severe drought

  • Hay yield is low; crop losses are reported; livestock need supplemental hay and water
  • Ponds, lakes, and river levels are low; boating hazards are found in lakes
  • Tress distressed, leaves wilting, pine trees turning brown

D3 Extreme drought

  • Creeks and ponds are completely dry; water shortages are widespread; water restrictions begin
  • Maintaining cattle and horses is very expensive, cost of food and water is very high; producers sell livestock

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Hay hotline is put in place due to shortages; producers are hauling water
  • Water sources are extremely low

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. Robertson 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 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.

Significant rainfall was observed over western Kentucky as well as over central-to-north Missouri, leading in removal of abnormally dry conditions. Heavy rain also fell in northwestern Iowa, northern Minnesota, and a band across central Wisconsin, with drought improvement as a result in these locations. Meanwhile, a mostly rain-free week in northern Illinois and Indiana caused introduction of an abnormally dry area. Extreme drought conditions can be found in southern Missouri, northern Wisconsin, and along the borders of Minnesota with both Wisconsin and North Dakota.

Looking ahead

Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain 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 Robertson 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.