Drought in Norton City, VA: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Norton City, VA: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (23 wk), 2001 (25 wk), 2002 (17 wk), 2005 (13 wk), 2007 (39 wk), 2008 (40 wk) and 2023 (23 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 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 Nov, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of VA

17th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Alexandria City (2.7 in 10) and Fredericksburg City (2.7 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 Nov (27% of weeks), then Oct (25%) and Dec (24%). Least in Apr (8%). May to September averages 13%.

20 Jan
13 Feb
16 Mar
8 Apr
9 May
12 Jun
11 Jul
13 Aug
18 Sep
25 Oct
27 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2008

2008: 40 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 16.3% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5% at D2, 1.7% at D3, 12 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 46 weeks, May 22, 2007 to Apr 1, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2023, 23 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.8 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 15 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.