Drought in Frederick County, VA: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (26 wk), 2007 (14 wk), 2010 (20 wk), 2023 (25 wk), 2024 (29 wk) and 2025 (36 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 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 Oct, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

53rd most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Bland County (2.3 in 10) and Wise County (2.3 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 Oct (24% of weeks), then Sep (24%) and Aug (19%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 15%.

13 Jan
15 Feb
13 Mar
16 Apr
8 May
9 Jun
13 Jul
19 Aug
24 Sep
24 Oct
18 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2025

2025: 36 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3.9% at D2, 1.1% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 55 weeks, Sep 9, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 36 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 38 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.