Drought in Providence County, RI: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (27 wk), 2013 (14 wk), 2016 (24 wk), 2017 (13 wk), 2020 (17 wk) and 2022 (18 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021 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 Nov, 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 RI

1st most drought-prone of 5 RI counties; the RI middle is 1.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Washington County (1.9 in 10). Least drought: Bristol County (1.5 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Nov (24% of weeks), then Dec (17%) and Sep (17%). Least in Mar (8%). May to September averages 12%.

8 Jan
11 Feb
8 Mar
8 Apr
12 May
9 Jun
8 Jul
15 Aug
17 Sep
16 Oct
24 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 27 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 12.7% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3.6% at D2, 0.5% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 35 weeks, Jul 19, 2016 to Mar 14, 2017.

Lately

Last drought year: 2022, 18 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 9 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.