Drought in Culpeper County, VA: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Culpeper County, VA: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (40 wk), 2007 (18 wk), 2008 (17 wk), 2010 (13 wk), 2017 (16 wk), 2024 (18 wk) and 2025 (29 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021 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 Jul, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

10th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Prince Edward County (2.7 in 10) and Falls Church City (2.7 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 Jul (23% of weeks), then Apr (22%) and Aug (22%). Least in Jun (9%). May to September averages 16%.

22 Jan
20 Feb
19 Mar
22 Apr
11 May
9 Jun
23 Jul
22 Aug
14 Sep
14 Oct
17 Nov
20 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 40 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 17.7% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.9% at D2, 0.6% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 47 weeks, Sep 16, 2025 to Aug 4, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 29 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 2.5 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 31 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.