US drought

Mississippi drought conditions

67.7% of Mississippi is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026, up 3.5 points from the week before. The worst is exceptional drought, across 0.9% of the state. 75 of 82 counties have some drought.

Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026.

In drought
67.7%
Worst category
D4 Exceptional drought
Abnormally dry or worse
100%
Counties with drought
75 of 82

Every countyLive radarMississippi alertsMississippi forecasts

Radar

Reflectivity now over Mississippi. Open it to see the Drought Monitor on the map.

Open the live radar with the Drought Monitor

Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

This week's map, by category

Percent of Mississippi in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 32.3%, D1 55.6%, D2 5.6%, D3 5.6%, D4 0.9%; none 0%.

CategoryThis weekSep 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse100%100%49.1%68.1%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse67.7%64.2%20%28.6%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse12.1%14.8%12.4%5.7%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse6.5%4%5.6%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0.9%0.9%1.2%0%
None0%0%50.9%31.9%

The past year

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

Percent of Mississippi in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 67.7% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% 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, 2026100%67.7%12.1%6.5%0.9%
Sep 8, 2026100%64.2%14.8%4%0.9%
Sep 1, 2026100%56.9%14.3%4%0.9%
Aug 25, 202686.1%45.7%12%4%0.9%
Aug 18, 202685%31.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Aug 11, 202657.8%15.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Aug 4, 202637.6%15.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Jul 28, 202633%15.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Jul 21, 202630.7%15.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Jul 14, 202630.2%15.2%8.2%4%0.9%
Jul 7, 202630.2%15.2%8.2%4.1%1.2%
Jun 30, 202630.2%15.8%8.7%4.9%1.2%
Jun 23, 202630.6%16.5%9.2%4.9%1.2%
Jun 16, 202649.1%20%12.4%5.6%1.2%
Jun 9, 202660.1%22.2%13.2%7.5%1.2%
Jun 2, 202664.9%34.8%21.3%12.4%1.2%
May 26, 2026100%62.6%28.8%14.4%2.2%
May 19, 2026100%93.2%55.6%22.9%2.2%
May 12, 2026100%94.1%57.5%16.9%1.3%
May 5, 2026100%97.5%66.2%18.3%0.6%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%91.6%21.6%0.6%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%91.4%39.2%0.6%
Apr 14, 2026100%92.2%48%9.1%0.6%
Apr 7, 2026100%68%29.4%6.3%0.6%
Mar 31, 2026100%68.5%29.4%6.3%0.6%
Mar 24, 202699.2%68%16.5%3.6%0%
Mar 17, 202699.2%51.3%15.6%3.5%0%
Mar 10, 202699.3%51.5%17.6%4%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%53.4%18.1%4.9%0%
Feb 24, 202665.3%23.9%13.3%4.1%0%
Feb 17, 202664.3%23.7%10.3%2%0%
Feb 10, 202656%23.9%10.8%1.5%0%
Feb 3, 202654.8%23.9%10.8%1.1%0%
Jan 27, 202656%23.4%9.1%0%0%
Jan 20, 202692.4%34.8%11.4%0%0%
Jan 13, 202694%34.8%9.2%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%66.7%5.4%0%0%
Dec 30, 202596%24.3%5.1%0%0%
Dec 23, 202548.5%18.9%5.1%0%0%
Dec 16, 202548.5%18.9%5.1%0%0%
Dec 9, 202546.7%18.9%5.1%0%0%
Dec 2, 202547.8%24.5%5.1%0%0%
Nov 25, 202551.4%25.7%5.1%0%0%
Nov 18, 202556.6%29.9%5.5%0%0%
Nov 11, 202556.2%22.9%5.5%0%0%
Nov 4, 202556.2%22.9%5.5%0%0%
Oct 28, 202557.2%23.4%5.5%0%0%
Oct 21, 202574.3%33.7%8.9%0%0%
Oct 14, 202580%42.6%10.3%0.4%0%
Oct 7, 202578.5%37.5%10.6%0.2%0%
Sep 30, 202578.8%36.7%9.2%0%0%
Sep 23, 202573.6%34%6.8%0%0%
Sep 16, 202568.1%28.6%5.7%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Mississippi since January 2000.

Percent of Mississippi in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 67.7% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% 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
2026D4 Exceptional drought100%Apr 2137 of 37
2025D3 Extreme drought42.6%Oct 1434 of 52
2024D4 Exceptional drought95.4%Jan 244 of 53
2023D4 Exceptional drought100%Oct 2433 of 52
2022D3 Extreme drought64.9%Oct 2552 of 52
2021D2 Severe drought15.2%Dec 2819 of 52
2020D2 Severe drought5.2%May 1220 of 52
2019D2 Severe drought10.9%Oct 821 of 53
2018D2 Severe drought39.8%Jan 926 of 52
2017D2 Severe drought63.4%Dec 1237 of 52
2016D4 Exceptional drought100%Nov 1529 of 52
2015D3 Extreme drought75.4%Oct 2036 of 52
2014D2 Severe drought31%Dec 2324 of 52
2013D3 Extreme drought52.8%Sep 1721 of 53
2012D3 Extreme drought19.1%Jul 1047 of 52
2011D4 Exceptional drought100%Mar 152 of 52
2010D3 Extreme drought99.8%Nov 237 of 52
2009D1 Moderate drought22.6%Jul 2119 of 52
2008D2 Severe drought34.4%Aug 530 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought99%May 142 of 52
2006D3 Extreme drought100%Aug 837 of 52
2005D2 Severe drought44.6%Nov 827 of 52
2004D1 Moderate drought2.5%Apr 201 of 52
2003D1 Moderate drought2.4%Jun 105 of 52
2002D2 Severe drought42.8%May 2813 of 53
2001D2 Severe drought33.6%Jan 923 of 52
2000D4 Exceptional drought100%Mar 752 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Mississippi was in drought on 59% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the state the week of Sep 15, 2026.

Weeks with some drought
818 of 1,394 (59%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Sep 15, 2026
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Apr 28, 2026
Longest spell
107 weeks, Apr 20, 2010 to May 1, 2012
Current spell
58 weeks, since Aug 12, 2025

Counties

Every county in Mississippi: the worst category on this week's map, the share of it in drought, and CPC's monthly outlook at its center. Each page has the county's record since 2000.

CountyWorst categoryIn droughtChangeMonthly outlook
Adams CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Alcorn CountyD1 Moderate drought100%+24.8Drought development likely
Amite CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Attala CountyD1 Moderate drought22.8%+22.8No drought expected
Benton CountyD1 Moderate drought79.5%0Drought development likely
Bolivar CountyD4 Exceptional drought100%0Drought persists
Calhoun CountyD1 Moderate drought97.8%+17.9No drought expected
Carroll CountyD3 Extreme drought100%+16.2Drought persists
Chickasaw CountyD1 Moderate drought46.6%+33.5No drought expected
Choctaw CountyD1 Moderate drought63.4%+63.4No drought expected
Claiborne CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Clarke CountyD1 Moderate drought15.6%0No drought expected
Clay CountyD1 Moderate drought99%+99.0No drought expected
Coahoma CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Copiah CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Covington CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0No drought expected
DeSoto CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought development likely
Forrest CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Franklin CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
George CountyD1 Moderate drought99.8%−0.2Drought persists
Greene CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Grenada CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought persists
Hancock CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%−100.0Drought removal likely
Harrison CountyD1 Moderate drought1%−99.0No drought expected
Hinds CountyD1 Moderate drought83.3%0Drought persists
Holmes CountyD3 Extreme drought100%+65.5No drought expected
Humphreys CountyD3 Extreme drought98.8%+2.0Drought persists
Issaquena CountyD2 Severe drought59.3%0Drought persists
Itawamba CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Jackson CountyD1 Moderate drought71%−28.9No drought expected
Jasper CountyD1 Moderate drought16.1%0No drought expected
Jefferson CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Jefferson Davis CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Jones CountyD2 Severe drought100%0No drought expected
Kemper CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Lafayette CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0No drought expected
Lamar CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Lauderdale CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Lawrence CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Leake CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Lee CountyD1 Moderate drought1.1%+1.1No drought expected
Leflore CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought persists
Lincoln CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Lowndes CountyD1 Moderate drought47.7%+23.6No drought expected
Madison CountyD1 Moderate drought6.1%0No drought expected
Marion CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Marshall CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought development likely
Monroe CountyD1 Moderate drought26.2%+26.2No drought expected
Montgomery CountyD2 Severe drought71.5%+13.2No drought expected
Neshoba CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Newton CountyD0 Abnormally dry0%0No drought expected
Noxubee CountyD1 Moderate drought20.1%+6.2No drought expected
Oktibbeha CountyD1 Moderate drought100%+81.4No drought expected
Panola CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Pearl River CountyD1 Moderate drought38.7%−15.4No drought expected
Perry CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Pike CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Pontotoc CountyD1 Moderate drought71.3%+16.3No drought expected
Prentiss CountyD1 Moderate drought52.9%+6.2No drought expected
Quitman CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Rankin CountyD1 Moderate drought76.4%0Drought persists
Scott CountyD1 Moderate drought4.7%0No drought expected
Sharkey CountyD2 Severe drought45.5%0No drought expected
Simpson CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Smith CountyD1 Moderate drought54.5%0No drought expected
Stone CountyD1 Moderate drought43.5%−36.0No drought expected
Sunflower CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought persists
Tallahatchie CountyD3 Extreme drought100%0Drought persists
Tate CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought development likely
Tippah CountyD1 Moderate drought65.3%0Drought development likely
Tishomingo CountyD1 Moderate drought7.4%+7.4No drought expected
Tunica CountyD1 Moderate drought98.2%0Drought persists
Union CountyD1 Moderate drought12.3%+0.2No drought expected
Walthall CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0Drought persists
Warren CountyD1 Moderate drought38.5%0No drought expected
Washington CountyD4 Exceptional drought100%0Drought persists
Wayne CountyD1 Moderate drought100%0No drought expected
Webster CountyD1 Moderate drought40%+16.0No drought expected
Wilkinson CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Winston CountyD1 Moderate drought32.1%+32.1No drought expected
Yalobusha CountyD2 Severe drought100%0Drought persists
Yazoo CountyD1 Moderate drought20.9%+20.6No drought expected

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's monthly drought outlook for Sep 2026, read at the center of each county. Its seasonal outlook runs through December 31; each county page has both.

  • No_Drought40 counties
  • Drought persists35 counties
  • Drought development likely6 counties
  • Drought removal likely1 county

What drought has meant in Mississippi

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

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Creek flow is low

D1 Moderate drought

  • More wildfires occur than normal
  • Wildlife search for water

D2 Severe drought

  • Burn bans expand
  • Cotton is stressed; supplemental hay for cattle begins
  • Ground is cracking, causing road damage
  • Hydroelectric power output decreases; energy cost is high

D3 Extreme drought

  • Burn bans are implemented
  • Home foundations and walls crack
  • Soybean yields are low
  • Surface water levels are low; boat ramps close

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Fire danger increases

Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.

This week in the South

The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.

Extremely above normal temperatures continued in this region over the past week. Nearly all locations had drought deterioration, with the exceptions of northern Arkansas, northeastern Oklahoma, and coastal Mississippi. Much of Texas and into the Ark-La-Tex area experienced flash drought conditions. In addition to the heat, these areas received little rainfall in the week. Extreme to exceptional drought conditions are noted in far south Texas, most of northern Texas into western and southern Oklahoma, northwestern and northeastern Arkansas, and along the Arkansas-Mississippi border.

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.

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.