Drought in Richland County, ND: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2012 (26 wk), 2013 (18 wk), 2015 (19 wk), 2021 (23 wk), 2022 (14 wk), 2024 (13 wk) and 2025 (20 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019 and 2020.

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.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (4 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.9 in 10).

Against the rest of ND

41st most drought-prone of 53 ND counties; the ND middle is 3.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Kidder County (2.7 in 10) and Foster County (2.3 in 10). Driest in ND: Bowman County (6.5 in 10). Least drought: Barnes County (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Feb (22% of weeks), then Mar (21%) and Apr (18%). Least in May (5%). May to September averages 10%.

18 Jan
22 Feb
21 Mar
18 Apr
5 May
6 Jun
10 Jul
13 Aug
17 Sep
18 Oct
17 Nov
16 Dec

The worst year: 2012

2012: 26 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 14.9% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 3% at D2, 0.6% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 33 weeks, Oct 8, 2024 to May 20, 2025.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 20 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 15 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.