Drought in Merrimack County, NH: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2001 (17 wk), 2002 (24 wk), 2016 (27 wk), 2017 (16 wk), 2020 (27 wk) and 2025 (35 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2019 and 2023.

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

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (4 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of NH

6th most drought-prone of 10 NH counties; the NH middle is 2.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Cheshire County (2.7 in 10) and Belknap County (2.3 in 10). Driest in NH: Strafford County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Grafton County (1.5 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Sep (22% of weeks), then Dec (19%) and Nov (19%). Least in Jun (10%). May to September averages 14%.

15 Jan
15 Feb
14 Mar
18 Apr
12 May
10 Jun
13 Jul
15 Aug
22 Sep
14 Oct
19 Nov
19 Dec

The worst year: 2025

2025: 35 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.5% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 7.2% at D2, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 45 weeks, Aug 19, 2025 to Jun 23, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 35 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 27 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.