Alabama drought

Is Cullman County in a drought?

D0 Abnormally dry

No. Cullman County is not in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 22, 2026, but 0.1% of it is abnormally dry (D0), the category before drought.

Map valid Sep 22, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Oct 1, 2026. Statewide, 46.1% of Alabama is in drought.

Cullman County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

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

US Drought Monitor map of Alabama 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 Cullman County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 0.1%, D1 0%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 99.9%.

CategoryThis weekSep 22Last weekSep 153 months agoJun 23A year agoSep 23
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse0.1%0%1.4%100%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse0%0%0%3.2%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse0%0%0%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%0%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None99.9%100%98.6%0%

The past year

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

Percent of Cullman County in drought categories from Sep 23, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0.1% 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, 20260.1%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, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 21, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 14, 20262%0%0%0%0%
Jul 7, 20262%0%0%0%0%
Jun 30, 20262%0%0%0%0%
Jun 23, 20261.4%0%0%0%0%
Jun 16, 20260.4%0%0%0%0%
Jun 9, 20260.8%0%0%0%0%
Jun 2, 202613.4%0%0%0%0%
May 26, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
May 19, 2026100%95.7%0%0%0%
May 12, 2026100%95.7%0%0%0%
May 5, 2026100%95.7%0.7%0%0%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%93.5%0%0%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%93.5%0%0%
Apr 14, 2026100%92.8%23.2%0%0%
Apr 7, 202692.8%68.3%0%0%0%
Mar 31, 202692.8%68.3%0%0%0%
Mar 24, 202692.8%24.5%0%0%0%
Mar 17, 202692.8%24.5%0%0%0%
Mar 10, 2026100%68.6%0%0%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%68.6%0%0%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%67%0%0%0%
Feb 17, 202691.2%11%0%0%0%
Feb 10, 202651%1.7%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 202651%1.7%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 202651%1.5%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%53.3%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%23.5%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 20258%0%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 20257.9%0%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 2025100%3.4%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 2025100%3.2%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%3.2%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 2025100%3.2%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 2025100%3.2%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Cullman County since January 2000.

Percent of Cullman County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0.1% 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 38
2025D1 Moderate drought100%Dec 1619 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 230 of 53
2023D3 Extreme drought100%Oct 313 of 52
2022D1 Moderate drought100%Nov 296 of 52
2021D1 Moderate drought28.8%Feb 92 of 52
2020D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2019D1 Moderate drought36.4%Oct 155 of 53
2018D2 Severe drought100%Jan 307 of 52
2017D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 320 of 52
2016D4 Exceptional drought100%May 3129 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought67.5%Jun 308 of 52
2014D1 Moderate drought12.5%Sep 302 of 52
2013D1 Moderate drought71.7%Nov 122 of 53
2012D1 Moderate drought51%Jul 1011 of 52
2011D1 Moderate drought100%Feb 2210 of 52
2010D2 Severe drought100%Oct 1215 of 52
2009None0%0 of 52
2008D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 150 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought100%Mar 1342 of 52
2006D2 Severe drought100%Jul 412 of 52
2005D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2004D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2003None0%0 of 52
2002D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2001D2 Severe drought100%Jan 26 of 52
2000D4 Exceptional drought100%Jan 444 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Cullman County was in drought on 25% 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
353 of 1,395 (25%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Dec 27, 2016
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Apr 28, 2026
Longest spell
92 weeks, Mar 13, 2007 to Dec 9, 2008
Last in drought
Week of May 19, 2026

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Cullman 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 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. Cullman 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 22, 2026, released Sep 24, 2026.

Continued heat and generally dry conditions were observed in most of the Southeast. Degradations were made from southeast Virginia, to the eastern/central Carolinas, down to Georgia and Alabama. Meanwhile, most of Florida was wet, leading to improvements, especially over the southeast of the state. There were also small improvements in the Florida panhandle and in northern South Carolina from localized moderate rainfall. An area of exceptional drought continues in northern North Carolina, with patches of extreme drought from southern Virginia down to central Florida.

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 Cullman 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.