Drought in Appanoose County, IA: 4.2 years in 10 since 2000

4.2 years in 10

Appanoose County, IA: 11 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (27 wk), 2003 (41 wk), 2005 (23 wk), 2006 (47 wk), 2012 (29 wk), 2013 (29 wk), 2017 (18 wk), 2018 (38 wk), 2022 (16 wk), 2023 (31 wk) and 2024 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

Plan for drought as normal: shrink the lawn, go drip and natives

Drought is the normal state of things here. Most of the yard goes to natives and gravel on drip; any grass that stays is a small, tough patch.

If you are replacing turf, plant natives in fall so roots set before the Sep peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Against the rest of IA

27th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Montgomery County (4.2 in 10) and Clay County (4.2 in 10). Driest in IA: Wapello County (5.4 in 10). Least drought: Howard County (2.3 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Sep (38% of weeks), then Oct (36%) and Nov (30%). Least in May (16%). May to September averages 26%.

24 Jan
26 Feb
22 Mar
17 Apr
16 May
24 Jun
23 Jul
30 Aug
38 Sep
36 Oct
30 Nov
23 Dec

The worst year: 2006

2006: 47 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 25.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 11.4% at D2, 1.7% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 47 weeks, May 30, 2023 to Apr 16, 2024.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 5 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 1 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.