Drought in Putnam County, NY: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (24 wk), 2015 (19 wk), 2016 (19 wk), 2017 (14 wk), 2022 (21 wk) and 2025 (21 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 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 NY

2nd most drought-prone of 62 NY counties; the NY middle is 0.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Rockland County (2.3 in 10) and Genesee County (2.3 in 10). Driest in NY: Rockland County (2.3 in 10). Least drought: Otsego County (0 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Nov (20% of weeks), then Dec (18%) and Jan (14%). Least in Jul (1%). May to September averages 7%.

14 Jan
11 Feb
10 Mar
13 Apr
11 May
4 Jun
1 Jul
7 Aug
12 Sep
14 Oct
20 Nov
18 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 24 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 11.2% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.6% at D2, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 30 weeks, Nov 6, 2001 to May 28, 2002.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 21 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 7 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.