– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 284 sq. mi. (25.9% of land area); 273,743 people (26.0% of population)— Moderate drought: 129 sq. mi. (11.8% of land area); 124,438 people (11.8% of population)— Severe drought: 35 sq. mi. (3.2% of land area); 32,966 people (3.1% of population)— Extreme drought: 06 sq. mi. (0.5% of land area); 4,966 people (0.5% of population)— Exceptional drought: zero sq. mi.; no peopleAs of March 2021, 99.3% of the state was abnormally dry. In late September 2020, almost 100% of the state was facing extreme drought. For 36 weeks between 2015 and 2016, Rhode Island was in a full-fledged drought, its longest dry spell since 2000.