Drought in Franklin County, AL: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (42 wk), 2007 (42 wk), 2008 (33 wk), 2016 (18 wk), 2017 (14 wk), 2023 (13 wk) and 2024 (24 wk). Not a single drought week in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 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 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 AL

57th most drought-prone of 67 AL counties; the AL middle is 3.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Marion County (2.7 in 10) and Fayette County (2.7 in 10). Driest in AL: Chambers County (5.4 in 10). Least drought: Morgan County (2.3 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Jan (26% of weeks), then Oct (23%) and Nov (22%). Least in May (10%). May to September averages 15%.

26 Jan
16 Feb
19 Mar
12 Apr
10 May
11 Jun
18 Jul
16 Aug
18 Sep
23 Oct
22 Nov
19 Dec

The worst year: 2000

2000: 42 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 17.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 8.1% at D2, 3.4% at D3, 27 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 63 weeks, Mar 13, 2007 to May 20, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 24 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 21 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.