Drought in Fredericksburg City, VA: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Fredericksburg 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 (46 wk), 2007 (20 wk), 2008 (17 wk), 2010 (13 wk), 2012 (14 wk), 2024 (16 wk) and 2025 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 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

18th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Norton City (2.7 in 10) and Westmoreland 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 Jul (23% of weeks), then Jan (19%) and Dec (18%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 16%.

19 Jan
17 Feb
17 Mar
17 Apr
8 May
14 Jun
23 Jul
18 Aug
16 Sep
16 Oct
12 Nov
18 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 46 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 16.2% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6% at D2, 1% at D3, 1 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 52 weeks, Nov 20, 2001 to Nov 12, 2002.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 2 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 31 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.