Alabama drought

Is Cleburne County in a drought?

D0 Abnormally dry

No. Cleburne County is not in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 29, 2026, but 39.8% of it is abnormally dry (D0), the category before drought.

Map valid Sep 29, 2026, released Thursday, Oct 1, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Oct 8, 2026. Statewide, 56.6% of Alabama is in drought.

Cleburne County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for Alabama, valid Sep 29, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of Alabama for Sep 29, 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 Cleburne County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 39.8%, D1 0%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 60.3%.

CategoryThis weekSep 29Last weekSep 223 months agoJun 30A year agoSep 30
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse39.8%1%34.8%100%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse0%0%0%82.1%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse0%0%0%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%0%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None60.3%99%65.2%0%

The past year

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

Percent of Cleburne County in drought categories from Sep 30, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 39.8% 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 29, 202639.8%0%0%0%0%
Sep 22, 20261%0%0%0%0%
Sep 15, 20261%0%0%0%0%
Sep 8, 20260.1%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, 202631.4%0%0%0%0%
Jul 14, 202634.8%0%0%0%0%
Jul 7, 202634.8%0%0%0%0%
Jun 30, 202634.8%0%0%0%0%
Jun 23, 202638.8%0%0%0%0%
Jun 16, 202651.5%19.8%0%0%0%
Jun 9, 202651.5%26.2%0%0%0%
Jun 2, 2026100%47.9%0%0%0%
May 26, 2026100%100%47.9%0%0%
May 19, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
May 12, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
May 5, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Apr 14, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Apr 7, 2026100%13.2%0%0%0%
Mar 31, 2026100%13.2%0%0%0%
Mar 24, 2026100%13.2%0%0%0%
Mar 17, 2026100%13.2%0%0%0%
Mar 10, 2026100%100%6.4%0%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%100%6.4%0%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%100%6.4%0%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%40.5%6.4%0%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%8.9%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 2025100%99.7%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%82.1%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 2025100%82.1%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Cleburne County since January 2000.

Percent of Cleburne County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 29, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 39.8% 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
2026D2 Severe drought100%Jan 620 of 39
2025D1 Moderate drought100%Oct 1421 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 219 of 53
2023D3 Extreme drought100%Oct 3111 of 52
2022D1 Moderate drought85.3%Nov 294 of 52
2021D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2020D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2019D1 Moderate drought87.2%Jun 411 of 53
2018D2 Severe drought100%Jan 239 of 52
2017D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 320 of 52
2016D4 Exceptional drought100%May 3134 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought4%Sep 155 of 52
2014D1 Moderate drought13%Sep 3013 of 52
2013D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 17 of 53
2012D3 Extreme drought100%Jun 2649 of 52
2011D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 445 of 52
2010D2 Severe drought100%Oct 1216 of 52
2009D1 Moderate drought21.8%Feb 245 of 52
2008D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 150 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought100%Mar 2742 of 52
2006D2 Severe drought100%Jun 2720 of 52
2005D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2004D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2003None0%0 of 52
2002D3 Extreme drought100%Mar 2625 of 53
2001D2 Severe drought100%Jan 220 of 52
2000D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 452 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Cleburne County was in drought on 36% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the county the week of Dec 27, 2016.

Weeks with some drought
498 of 1,396 (36%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Dec 27, 2016
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of May 26, 2026
Longest spell
92 weeks, Mar 13, 2007 to Dec 9, 2008
Last in drought
Week of Jun 16, 2026

Outlook

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

Monthly outlook, Oct 2026
No drought expected
Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 30)
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 Alabama

The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Alabama at each level of drought, starting with this week's worst here.

D0 Abnormally dry This week

  • Agriculture ponds and creeks begin to decline
  • Forage crops and pasture are stressed; producers feed livestock early
  • Ground is hard

D1 Moderate drought

  • Cash crop growth and yield are low
  • Fire activity increases
  • National forests implement campfire and firework bans
  • Streams and ponds are low

D2 Severe drought

  • Burn bans begin
  • Crops are damaged, especially dryland corn
  • Hydroelectric power decreases; navigation is limited
  • Large cracks appear in foundations of homes
  • Large surface water levels drop; agricultural ponds and streams have dried up
  • Saltwater intrusion occurs in rivers and bays; saltwater wildlife migrate upstream

D3 Extreme drought

  • Air quality is poor
  • Ground has noticeable cracks; road damage has occurred
  • Landscape growth is stunted and needs irrigation; Christmas tree growth is stunted
  • Large-scale hay shortages occur; producers sell livestock
  • Low flow in rivers and lakes affects recreation
  • Soybean pods shatter
  • Water mains break daily in large municipalities; water conservation is implemented
  • Wildfire count and fire danger continue to increase

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Lakes are extremely low; large municipalities implement water restrictions; water prices increase
  • Trees and shrubs are defoliated; grass is brown; landscaping projects are delayed
  • Wildfire count is very high

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. Cleburne 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 Southeast

The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 29, 2026, released Oct 1, 2026.

The Southeastern states were a mixed bag, with Virginia and North Carolina experiencing several inches of beneficial rainfall earlier in the week, leading to drought improvement, especially in the western parts of these states. Some abnormal dryness and moderate drought set in over far southeastern Virginia and the northeast coast of North Carolina. Florida was also a mixed bag, experiencing some improvements around Miami metro where 1-4 inches of rain fell this past week. But as is typically the case for Florida summers, rainfall was spotty so some areas had slight degradations in drought conditions, which has been persistently stubborn across Florida this summer. Alabama and Georgia were mostly dry, and despite the return to near-seasonably normal temperatures, both states had worsening drought with the addition of severe and extreme drought categories this week, largely contributed by the extraordinary September heat wave.

Looking ahead

Ongoing substantial rain was falling Tuesday morning at the onset of the new U.S. Drought Monitor week, from Arizona and New Mexico into the Central and High Plains. This excessive rainy system connected to Hurricane Polo is projected to continue eastward this week into the High Plains, Midwest, and South regions. The Weather Prediction Center has moderate threats for excessive rainfall from the Southwest into Texas, Oklahoma, northward into Nebraska and Iowa. Drought-busting rains may be possible across the South as this weather system evolves this week. Looking into the next week, the Climate Prediction Center’s 6–10-day outlook indicates that well-above average temperatures will shift into the western states, along with below normal precipitation chances. Meanwhile, above average precipitation chances are projected from southern Texas into the southeastern states, including Florida. Above average precipitation chances are also projected for southeastern Alaska, with near neutral rainfall forecasts for Hawaii.

Written by Denise Gutzmer, National Drought Mitigation Center; Jonathan Case, NASA/MSFC, UAH. 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 Cleburne 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.