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

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (46 wk), 2007 (21 wk), 2008 (21 wk), 2017 (13 wk), 2024 (15 wk) and 2025 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 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 Apr, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

43rd most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Spotsylvania County (2.3 in 10) and Stafford 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 Apr (21% of weeks), then Feb (19%) and Aug (18%). Least in May (11%). May to September averages 15%.

18 Jan
19 Feb
17 Mar
21 Apr
11 May
13 Jun
17 Jul
18 Aug
15 Sep
14 Oct
17 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 46 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 16.2% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6.2% at D2, 1.6% at D3, 2 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 55 weeks, Oct 30, 2001 to Nov 12, 2002.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 32 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.