Drought in La Crosse County, WI: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

La Crosse County, WI: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2003 (21 wk), 2004 (14 wk), 2008 (16 wk), 2009 (26 wk), 2012 (25 wk), 2013 (34 wk) and 2023 (29 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 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 WI

31st most drought-prone of 72 WI counties; the WI middle is 2.7 in 10. Closest on the list: Walworth County (2.7 in 10) and Marinette County (2.7 in 10). Driest in WI: Barron County (4.6 in 10). Least drought: Fond du Lac County (0.8 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Oct (25% of weeks), then Sep (21%) and Dec (20%). Least in May (7%). May to September averages 13%.

16 Jan
17 Feb
19 Mar
11 Apr
7 May
10 Jun
13 Jul
14 Aug
21 Sep
25 Oct
18 Nov
20 Dec

The worst year: 2013

2013: 34 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.9% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3.1% at D2, 0.8% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 40 weeks, Jul 10, 2012 to Apr 9, 2013.

Lately

Last drought year: 2023, 29 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 5 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.