Drought in Lee County, VA: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (24 wk), 2001 (26 wk), 2002 (13 wk), 2005 (13 wk), 2007 (40 wk) and 2008 (40 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2025.

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 Nov, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

55th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Wise County (2.3 in 10) and Page County (2.3 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 Nov (28% of weeks), then Dec (24%) and Oct (23%). Least in Apr (6%). May to September averages 12%.

16 Jan
13 Feb
13 Mar
6 Apr
9 May
17 Jun
13 Jul
11 Aug
11 Sep
23 Oct
28 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2007

2007: 40 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.1% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6.1% at D2, 2.1% at D3, 16 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 46 weeks, May 22, 2007 to Apr 1, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2008, 40 weeks. 2016-2025: 0 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 15 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.