Drought in Salinas Municipio, PR: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Salinas Municipio, PR: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2007 (13 wk), 2014 (15 wk), 2015 (35 wk), 2016 (45 wk), 2019 (23 wk), 2021 (26 wk) and 2022 (34 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2024.

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 Aug peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

This is one step drier than the yearly count alone suggests, because 25% of growing-season weeks here were in drought.

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

Against the rest of PR

1st most drought-prone of 78 PR counties; the PR middle is 0.4 in 10. Closest on the list: Cayey Municipio (2.3 in 10). Least drought: Mayaguez Municipio (0 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Aug (31% of weeks), then Jul (28%) and Sep (25%). Least in Nov (8%). May to September averages 25%.

8 Jan
12 Feb
16 Mar
15 Apr
18 May
24 Jun
28 Jul
31 Aug
25 Sep
18 Oct
8 Nov
9 Dec

The worst year: 2016

2016: 45 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 17.8% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6% at D2, 2.5% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 80 weeks, May 5, 2015 to Nov 8, 2016.

Lately

Last drought year: 2022, 34 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 22 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.