For some regions of the United States, drought can be extremely long, spanning several years. The longest U.S. drought in the 21st century took place in Wyoming. Over five years of consecutive drought was seen in several counties This occurs typically in the interior of the United States. The Rocky Mountains block moist air masses from travelling eastward. Long droughts are not necessarily the most severe but they will cause agricultural and ecological damage. Plans to lower the Rocky Mountains have been suggested in order to boost agricultural production in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020
Characteristic
Duration in weeks
Wyoming (2001-2009)
435
Arizona (2010-2019)
423
California (2010-2019)
368
Nebraska (2002-2008)
344
South Dakota (2002-2008)
311
Montana (2000-2006)
307
New Mexico (2002-2007)
291
Oregon (2012-2017)
269
Nevada (2012-2017)
266
Idaho (2001-2006)
256
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Duration in weeks435435423423368368344344311311307307291291269269266266256256Wyoming(2001-2009)Arizona(2010-2019)California(2010-2019)Nebraska(2002-2008)South Dakota(2002-2008)Montana(2000-2006)New Mexico(2002-2007)Oregon(2012-2017)Nevada(2012-2017)Idaho(2001-2006)
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United States Drought Monitor. (February 25, 2020). Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/
United States Drought Monitor. "Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020." Chart. February 25, 2020. Statista. Accessed June 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/
United States Drought Monitor. (2020). Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/
United States Drought Monitor. "Length of Longest Droughts in The United States between 2000 and 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Feb 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/
United States Drought Monitor, Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/ (last visited June 06, 2025)
Length of longest droughts in the United States between 2000 and 2020 [Graph], United States Drought Monitor, February 25, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101674/length-longest-drought-us-state/
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