Severe droughts developing throughout the United States are prompting several states to impose water restrictions, as some American towns fear they will run out of water within weeks. The US Drought Monitor, the nation's weekly map illustrating drought conditions, has warned that the situation has already reached 'extreme' or 'exceptional' levels in the Southeast, South, Plains, and parts of the West.
Worst-Affected Areas
Currently, the worst drought-stricken areas are reported in northern Florida, southern Georgia, and Colorado, where conditions have reached the most severe level measured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An 'exceptional' drought indicates widespread crop and pasture losses, along with shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies. More than eight percent of the US has reached this level.
An additional 18 percent of the US is suffering from 'extreme' drought conditions, including large sections of the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming, leading to widespread water restrictions.
Local Responses
Parts of Arizona, including the small town of Kearny, have already warned residents that there may be no water flowing through local taps by July. Kearny resident Jerry Kaufhold told KPNX: 'I'm wearing shirts twice, two days in a row just to cut my laundry in half.' In Colorado, multiple municipalities have imposed limits on outdoor watering of grass, fining residents who water lawns between 10am and 6pm local time and requiring leaking pipes to be repaired within 10 days.
Other states cracking down on water usage as a hot and dry summer is expected are North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought. The state has seen the highest amount of land deemed to be in an 'extreme' drought since 2000.
Energy Concerns
In areas out west that rely on hydroelectric power generated by the Hoover Dam, including Nevada, Arizona, and California, an extreme drought could threaten to severely cut available electricity. Hoover Dam, which relies on water from Lake Mead, is facing a potential 40-percent drop in power output by the fall due to the ongoing drought, record-low snowpack, and new emergency water management plans.
In regions where water supplies are expected to be strained, local governments have asked Americans to stop washing their cars, avoid filling pools, and take shorter showers.
Summer Outlook
AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok said: 'This summer will likely be remembered for weather extremes. Dangerous heat waves are likely in parts of the West and South. Storms and flash flooding may bring the biggest problems from the Plains to the Ohio Valley. Drought and wildfire risk will also be major concerns in the Northwest.'
AccuWeather predictions for 2026 warn that Idaho, Montana, and Nevada are likely to see severe drought conditions develop heading into June. Meteorologists expect the worst drought conditions to affect 12 states this summer. While the situation has already become dire, things are expected to worsen heading into the heart of summer.
Wildfire Risk
While droughts this summer will cause water emergencies throughout the South, forecasters believe the greatest threat for wildfires will erupt along a massive stretch from the Colorado Rockies to the Pacific Northwest. Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state are all projected to be in the 'extreme' risk zone for wildfires this summer.
Overall, AccuWeather's wildfire forecast for this year predicted a sharp rise in deadly blazes, after a relatively quiet 2025 wildfire season. Compared to the 5.1 million acres that burned last year, experts have said the total could reach as high as eight million acres in 2026, triggered by 65,000 to 80,000 fires. Pastelok explained: 'Expanding drought, combined with heat, wind, and dry vegetation, is a dangerous combination. Even if the total number of fires across the country is lower than last year, that does not mean the overall risk is reduced. We expect hundreds of thousands, if not millions, more acres to burn this year.'
Regional Variations
Compared to last summer, drought conditions may ease in the Southwest, particularly in Arizona, the southern half of Nevada, and Southern California, where the forecast calls for wetter and more humid weather. The same conditions are expected to bring more rainwater to the Carolina Coast and Virginia later this summer. However, the weather is expected to be hotter, drier, and see fewer thunderstorms than last year in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast.
NOAA has already warned farmers in Georgia and Florida that missing a week or more of rainfall will lead to soil drying out and dying faster. 'Over 60 percent of the contiguous United States is currently experiencing drought conditions as of April 7,' NOAA stated in a recent report. 'During the upcoming three-month period, below-average precipitation is favored for the Northwest, combined with much below-normal mountain snow cover will likely lead to drought persistence and expansion.'
