Drought in Louisa County, IA: 3.8 years in 10 since 2000

3.8 years in 10

Louisa County, IA: 10 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (22 wk), 2003 (29 wk), 2005 (27 wk), 2006 (20 wk), 2011 (14 wk), 2012 (25 wk), 2013 (29 wk), 2014 (24 wk), 2023 (30 wk) and 2024 (15 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 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 Feb peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Against the rest of IA

58th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Johnson County (3.8 in 10) and Plymouth County (3.5 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 Feb (29% of weeks), then Sep (27%) and Oct (26%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 16%.

24 Jan
29 Feb
25 Mar
13 Apr
8 May
10 Jun
13 Jul
22 Aug
27 Sep
26 Oct
21 Nov
20 Dec

The worst year: 2023

2023: 30 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 19.9% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 8.8% at D2, 1.8% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 43 weeks, Aug 27, 2013 to Jun 17, 2014.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 15 weeks. 2016-2025: 2 in 10, against 5 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 7 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.