Drought in Jefferson County, IA: 5 years in 10 since 2000

5 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (26 wk), 2003 (29 wk), 2005 (24 wk), 2006 (35 wk), 2011 (16 wk), 2012 (29 wk), 2013 (29 wk), 2014 (22 wk), 2017 (15 wk), 2018 (27 wk), 2022 (24 wk), 2023 (39 wk) and 2024 (16 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

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 Aug peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Against the rest of IA

4th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Audubon County (5 in 10) and Monroe County (5 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 Aug (32% of weeks), then Feb (31%) and Sep (31%). Least in May (13%). May to September averages 24%.

31 Jan
31 Feb
24 Mar
16 Apr
13 May
18 Jun
23 Jul
32 Aug
31 Sep
31 Oct
30 Nov
25 Dec

The worst year: 2023

2023: 39 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 25.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 11.8% at D2, 1.5% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 47 weeks, May 30, 2023 to Apr 16, 2024.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 16 weeks. 2016-2025: 5 in 10, against 5 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 8 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.