Drought in Rockingham County, NH: 3.1 years in 10 since 2000

3.1 years in 10

Rockingham County, NH: 8 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (25 wk), 2015 (24 wk), 2016 (38 wk), 2017 (16 wk), 2020 (27 wk), 2022 (16 wk), 2024 (17 wk) and 2025 (37 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 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 Dec, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (6 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of NH

2nd most drought-prone of 10 NH counties; the NH middle is 2.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Strafford County (3.1 in 10) and Sullivan County (2.7 in 10). Driest in NH: Strafford County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Grafton County (1.5 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Dec (28% of weeks), then Sep (27%) and Nov (24%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 17%.

20 Jan
18 Feb
14 Mar
18 Apr
8 May
13 Jun
15 Jul
21 Aug
27 Sep
21 Oct
24 Nov
28 Dec

The worst year: 2016

2016: 38 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 18.9% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6.9% at D2, 0.9% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 59 weeks, Aug 19, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 37 weeks. 2016-2025: 6 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 39 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.