Drought in Howell County, MO: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (20 wk), 2012 (31 wk), 2017 (22 wk), 2018 (15 wk), 2022 (16 wk) and 2025 (18 wk). Not a single drought week in 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 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 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of MO

90th most drought-prone of 115 MO counties; the MO middle is 3.1 in 10. Closest on the list: New Madrid County (2.3 in 10) and Maries County (2.3 in 10). Driest in MO: Jasper County (4.6 in 10). Least drought: Perry County (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Jan (23% of weeks), then Oct (21%) and Sep (21%). Least in Apr (6%). May to September averages 14%.

23 Jan
17 Feb
8 Mar
6 Apr
10 May
14 Jun
11 Jul
16 Aug
21 Sep
21 Oct
19 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2012

2012: 31 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.2% at D2, 0.8% at D3, 3 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 39 weeks, May 29, 2012 to Feb 19, 2013.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 18 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 28 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.