Drought in Guthrie County, IA: 4.2 years in 10 since 2000

4.2 years in 10

Guthrie County, IA: 11 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (45 wk), 2003 (36 wk), 2005 (16 wk), 2006 (20 wk), 2012 (24 wk), 2013 (38 wk), 2014 (18 wk), 2020 (26 wk), 2021 (24 wk), 2023 (25 wk) and 2024 (22 wk). Not a single drought week in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Plan for drought as normal: shrink the lawn, go drip and natives

Drought is the normal state of things here. Most of the yard goes to natives and gravel on drip; any grass that stays is a small, tough patch.

If you are replacing turf, plant natives in fall so roots set before the Oct peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Against the rest of IA

29th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Clay County (4.2 in 10) and Page County (4.2 in 10). Driest in IA: Wapello County (5.4 in 10). Least drought: Howard County (2.3 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Oct (37% of weeks), then Jan (36%) and Feb (35%). Least in May (6%). May to September averages 13%.

36 Jan
35 Feb
24 Mar
25 Apr
6 May
9 Jun
13 Jul
15 Aug
24 Sep
37 Oct
32 Nov
30 Dec

The worst year: 2000

2000: 45 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 23.8% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 8.7% at D2, 2.3% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 40 weeks, Jul 17, 2012 to Apr 16, 2013.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 22 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 4.4 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 0 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.