Drought in McDowell County, WV: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (14 wk), 2001 (18 wk), 2002 (18 wk), 2007 (29 wk), 2008 (30 wk) and 2024 (14 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 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 Jan, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of WV

2nd most drought-prone of 55 WV counties; the WV middle is 0.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Mercer County (2.3 in 10) and Jefferson County (1.9 in 10). Driest in WV: Mercer County (2.3 in 10). Least drought: Hancock County (0.4 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Jan (18% of weeks), then Nov (17%) and Sep (16%). Least in Apr (4%). May to September averages 10%.

18 Jan
10 Feb
5 Mar
4 Apr
8 May
7 Jun
10 Jul
8 Aug
16 Sep
13 Oct
17 Nov
15 Dec

The worst year: 2008

2008: 30 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 10.9% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3.9% at D2, 0.3% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 38 weeks, Jun 19, 2007 to Mar 4, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 14 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 14 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.