Drought in Roberts County, SD: 4.2 years in 10 since 2000

4.2 years in 10

Roberts County, SD: 11 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2003 (19 wk), 2004 (20 wk), 2012 (32 wk), 2013 (21 wk), 2015 (18 wk), 2020 (24 wk), 2021 (25 wk), 2022 (14 wk), 2023 (18 wk), 2024 (13 wk) and 2025 (20 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2019.

Plan for drought as normal: shrink the lawn, go drip and natives

Drought is the normal state of things here. Most of the yard goes to natives and gravel on drip; any grass that stays is a small, tough patch.

If you are replacing turf, plant natives in fall so roots set before the Feb peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (6 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (3.1 in 10).

Against the rest of SD

29th most drought-prone of 66 SD counties; the SD middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Walworth County (4.2 in 10) and Brown County (4.2 in 10). Driest in SD: Jackson County (6.9 in 10). Least drought: Clark County (2.3 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Feb (33% of weeks), then Mar (28%) and Jan (23%). Least in May (7%). May to September averages 15%.

23 Jan
33 Feb
28 Mar
20 Apr
7 May
10 Jun
18 Jul
21 Aug
22 Sep
22 Oct
22 Nov
22 Dec

The worst year: 2012

2012: 32 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 20.4% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 2.4% at D2, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 38 weeks, Jul 21, 2020 to Apr 6, 2021.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 20 weeks. 2016-2025: 6 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 11 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.