Drought in McLean County, IL: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (21 wk), 2003 (13 wk), 2005 (32 wk), 2006 (14 wk), 2012 (19 wk), 2013 (18 wk) and 2025 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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

Against the rest of IL

36th most drought-prone of 102 IL counties; the IL middle is 2.3 in 10. Closest on the list: Bureau County (2.7 in 10) and Marshall County (2.7 in 10). Driest in IL: Hancock County (3.8 in 10). Least drought: Edwards County (0.4 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Feb (19% of weeks), then Jan (19%) and Oct (18%). Least in May (6%). May to September averages 11%.

19 Jan
19 Feb
15 Mar
7 Apr
6 May
10 Jun
11 Jul
13 Aug
17 Sep
18 Oct
15 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2005

2005: 32 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 14% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 4.6% at D2, 1.1% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 46 weeks, May 24, 2005 to Apr 4, 2006.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 13 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.