Drought in Cass County, IA: 4.6 years in 10 since 2000

4.6 years in 10

Cass County, IA: 12 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (46 wk), 2003 (37 wk), 2005 (16 wk), 2006 (25 wk), 2012 (24 wk), 2013 (30 wk), 2020 (25 wk), 2021 (19 wk), 2022 (22 wk), 2023 (36 wk), 2024 (30 wk) and 2025 (21 wk). Not a single drought week in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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 Jan peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (6 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (3.8 in 10).

Against the rest of IA

9th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Van Buren County (4.6 in 10) and Fremont County (4.6 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 Jan (37% of weeks), then Oct (37%) and Nov (33%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 19%.

37 Jan
32 Feb
24 Mar
25 Apr
8 May
14 Jun
19 Jul
24 Aug
28 Sep
37 Oct
33 Nov
31 Dec

The worst year: 2000

2000: 46 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 25.8% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 10.7% at D2, 1.6% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 40 weeks, Jul 17, 2012 to Apr 16, 2013.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 21 weeks. 2016-2025: 6 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 3 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.