Drought risk in North Dakota

What Drought Looks Like in North Dakota

Drought is one of North Dakota's most common natural hazards — it simply unfolds more slowly than a flood or a blizzard. The state sits in the northern Great Plains, far from any ocean, with cold winters, hot summers and modest rainfall. Average annual precipitation runs from roughly 14 inches in the southwest to more than 20 inches in the southeast, and summer evaporation rates are high. That combination means North Dakota is often only a few weeks of hot, dry, windy weather away from drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor rates drought on a five-step scale, from D0 (abnormally dry) through D4 (exceptional drought). North Dakota has recorded every category, and multi-year droughts — including the 1930s Dust Bowl era and the late 1980s — are part of the state's history. Drought can develop in any season, but it most often deepens in July and August, when heat and wind pull moisture out of soils faster than rain replaces it. A dry fall followed by a low-snow winter can carry drought into the next growing season, because the state depends on snowmelt to recharge soil moisture in spring.

Exposure is not uniform. The western and southwestern counties — the Missouri Slope and Badlands country around Dickinson, Bowman and Williston — are typically driest. The Red River Valley in the east is wetter but not immune; there, drought shows up as low rivers, dry ponds and stressed trees rather than cracked, bare ground.

How Drought Affects Homes in North Dakota

Drought rarely damages a house the way hail or wind does, but its effects can be slow, expensive and long-lasting.

• Foundation and soil movement. Many North Dakota soils contain expansive clays that swell when wet and shrink when dry. During a long dry spell, soil pulls away from a foundation, allowing walls to settle, crack or bow. Cracks in basement walls, sticking doors and gaps around the foundation are common warning signs.
• Private wells and water supply. Many rural residents rely on private wells. When the water table drops, wells may run low, produce sediment or fail, and drilling deeper is costly.
• Wildfire risk. Drought dries out grass, shelterbelts and trees, increasing the chance a wildfire will reach a rural home.
• Landscaping and trees. Lawns, mature trees and windbreaks are often the first casualties, which can raise summer cooling costs.
• Water restrictions. Municipal and rural water systems may impose watering bans that affect lawns, gardens and outdoor water use.

Insurance considerations. Standard homeowners policies generally cover sudden, accidental damage — a burst pipe or a fire — but usually exclude earth movement, settling, shrinkage and gradual deterioration. Foundation cracking caused by drought-related soil shrinkage is typically not covered. Drought losses also rarely lead to the type of federal individual assistance that follows a hurricane or flood; most U.S. drought relief focuses on agriculture. Before problems occur, document your home's condition with dated photos and ask your agent how your policy treats settling, earth movement and wildfire.

How to Prepare Your Home for Drought

1. Manage water around the foundation. Keep gutters and downspouts clear and direct water at least five to six feet from the house so soil moisture stays even.
2. Watch the soil, not just the walls. In long dry spells, a slow soaker hose near the foundation can limit extreme shrinkage — but never soak the soil. Check with a foundation professional first.
3. Inspect regularly. Check basement and crawl space walls, window and door frames, and exterior siding or brick for new cracks, and photograph anything you find.
4. Convert to water-wise landscaping. Use native and drought-tolerant plants, mulch beds heavily, and group thirsty plants together.
5. Water smarter. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of sprinklers, water in the early morning, and follow local watering restrictions.
6. Install WaterSense fixtures. EPA WaterSense labeled toilets, showerheads and faucets use at least 20 percent less water than standard models.
7. Fix leaks. A dripping faucet or running toilet wastes water every day and adds unnecessary strain to a well.
8. Protect your well. Have the well inspected and its water level checked periodically, keep records, and store several days of drinking water at home.
9. Create defensible space. Clear dry grass, leaves and brush within at least 30 feet of the house and keep firewood away from structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does homeowners insurance cover drought damage in North Dakota?

Usually not. Most standard policies exclude earth movement, settling, shrinking and gradual deterioration, which are how drought most often damages a foundation. Fire damage is generally covered, so a wildfire reaching your house would typically be a covered loss. Because wording varies by insurer, ask your agent how your policy treats soil movement and wildfire before you need to file a claim.

Which parts of North Dakota are most at risk from drought?

The western and southwestern counties are usually the most drought-prone, receiving the least annual precipitation with higher evaporation. Drought can affect the entire state, including the wetter Red River Valley, and conditions change within weeks. The U.S. Drought Monitor publishes a weekly county-level map, and Drought.gov offers state outlooks.

How can I tell whether my well is being affected by drought?

Warning signs include lower water pressure, sputtering faucets, cloudy or sandy water, and a pump that runs longer than usual. Because wells are usually the homeowner's responsibility, have a licensed well contractor check the water level and pump if you notice changes. Your county office or the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services can point you to current drought status and local water-use guidance.

Official Resources

• North Dakota Department of Emergency Services — state preparedness and hazard information.
• U.S. Drought Monitor — weekly national and county-level drought conditions.
• Drought.gov — federal drought data, outlooks and state resources.
• EPA WaterSense — water-efficient products and water-saving tips.