Drought in Bland County, VA: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

Bland County, VA: 6 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (14 wk), 2001 (28 wk), 2002 (28 wk), 2007 (28 wk), 2008 (44 wk) and 2024 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2022.

Keep a lawn, but switch to drought-tolerant grass

Dry years come often enough to kill a thirsty lawn every few summers. Keep the lawn, reseed with a drought-tolerant mix, and put the beds on drip.

If you reseed, use a drought-tolerant mix and do it well clear of Dec, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

52nd most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Nottoway County (2.3 in 10) and Frederick County (2.3 in 10). Driest in VA: Halifax County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Covington City (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Dec (24% of weeks), then Nov (23%) and Oct (18%). Least in May (7%). May to September averages 13%.

15 Jan
14 Feb
18 Mar
9 Apr
7 May
11 Jun
16 Jul
16 Aug
17 Sep
18 Oct
23 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2008

2008: 44 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 4.2% at D2, 0.2% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 42 weeks, Jun 19, 2007 to Apr 1, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 15 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.