Drought in Falls Church City, VA: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (43 wk), 2007 (16 wk), 2012 (14 wk), 2017 (22 wk), 2018 (15 wk), 2024 (24 wk) and 2025 (31 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 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 Jan, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (4 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.9 in 10).

Against the rest of VA

11th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Culpeper County (2.7 in 10) and Arlington County (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 Jan (23% of weeks), then Dec (23%) and Jul (23%). Least in May (12%). May to September averages 16%.

23 Jan
18 Feb
20 Mar
22 Apr
12 May
13 Jun
23 Jul
18 Aug
14 Sep
15 Oct
13 Nov
23 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 43 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 17.7% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.5% at D2, 0.6% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 41 weeks, Oct 21, 2025 to Jul 28, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 31 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 30 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.