Drought in Capitol Planning Region, CT: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Capitol Planning Region, CT: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (22 wk), 2015 (16 wk), 2016 (35 wk), 2017 (16 wk), 2020 (17 wk), 2022 (16 wk) and 2025 (17 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

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 Nov, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (5 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of CT

2nd most drought-prone of 9 CT counties; the CT middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region (2.7 in 10) and Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region (2.3 in 10). Driest in CT: Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region (2.7 in 10). Least drought: Western Connecticut Planning Region (1.9 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Nov (22% of weeks), then Oct (18%) and Dec (17%). Least in Jun (3%). May to September averages 11%.

15 Jan
15 Feb
10 Mar
13 Apr
11 May
3 Jun
10 Jul
14 Aug
16 Sep
18 Oct
22 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2016

2016: 35 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 13.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.6% at D2, 1% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 41 weeks, Jun 28, 2016 to Apr 4, 2017.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 17 weeks. 2016-2025: 5 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 5 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.