#51. Ohio

%2351.+Ohio

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– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 6,631 sq. mi. (16.1% of land area); 1,815,050 people (15.7% of population)

— Moderate drought: 1,987 sq. mi. (4.8% of land area); 582,980 people (5.1% of population)

— Severe drought: 331 sq. mi. (0.8% of land area); 88,964 people (0.8% of population)

— Extreme drought: 29 sq. mi. (0.1% of land area); 10,379 people (0.1% of population)

— Exceptional drought: zero sq. mi.; no people

Ohio’s longest 21st-century drought took place nearly 20 years ago and it lasted 44 weeks, from 2002–2003. Trouble is once again, however, on the horizon. A June 2020 report cited the rapid decline of soil moisture and persistent dry weather as probable indicators that the remainder of the year could be hard on farmers, as several crops were already showing signs of drought stress.