– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 17,504 sq. mi. (37.3% of land area); 1,672,461 people (36.9% of population)

— Moderate drought: 8,721 sq. mi. (18.6% of land area); 827,764 people (18.3% of population)

— Severe drought: 4,517 sq. mi. (9.6% of land area); 409,412 people (9.0% of population)

— Extreme drought: 2,026 sq. mi. (4.3% of land area); 198,914 people (4.4% of population)

— Exceptional drought: 542 sq. mi. (1.2% of land area); 52,486 people (1.2% of population)

A significant part of Louisiana is facing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions, increasing fire dangers and inspiring farmers to dial back crop planting. But this is an improvement over 2020, when worsening drought crept across the South—conditions were already severe in some parts of the state.