Drought in Dunklin County, MO: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (31 wk), 2001 (33 wk), 2007 (13 wk), 2010 (23 wk), 2012 (30 wk) and 2022 (14 wk). Not a single drought week in 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

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

Against the rest of MO

83rd most drought-prone of 115 MO counties; the MO middle is 3.1 in 10. Closest on the list: Saint Louis City (2.7 in 10) and Pemiscot County (2.3 in 10). Driest in MO: Jasper County (4.6 in 10). Least drought: Perry County (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Aug (28% of weeks), then Oct (28%) and Sep (26%). Least in Mar (6%). May to September averages 22%.

18 Jan
13 Feb
6 Mar
11 Apr
17 May
17 Jun
21 Jul
28 Aug
26 Sep
28 Oct
20 Nov
14 Dec

The worst year: 2001

2001: 33 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 18.2% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 9.2% at D2, 3.9% at D3, 10 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 44 weeks, Jan 6, 2026 to Nov 3, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2022, 14 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 44 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.