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

2.3 years in 10

Rockland 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 (28 wk), 2015 (19 wk), 2016 (30 wk), 2017 (13 wk), 2022 (17 wk) and 2025 (22 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

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

1st most drought-prone of 62 NY counties; the NY middle is 0.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Putnam County (2.3 in 10). Least drought: Otsego County (0 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Nov (22% of weeks), then Dec (17%) and Jan (17%). Least in Jul (4%). May to September averages 10%.

17 Jan
15 Feb
12 Mar
15 Apr
13 May
9 Jun
4 Jul
8 Aug
16 Sep
16 Oct
22 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2016

2016: 30 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 13.5% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 4.4% at D2, 0.1% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 42 weeks, Jun 14, 2016 to Mar 28, 2017.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 22 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 20 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.