Drought in Santa Cruz County, CA: 3.8 years in 10 since 2000

3.8 years in 10

Santa Cruz County, CA: 10 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2007 (38 wk), 2008 (29 wk), 2009 (41 wk), 2012 (48 wk), 2013 (35 wk), 2014 (52 wk), 2015 (52 wk), 2020 (25 wk), 2021 (43 wk) and 2022 (52 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2024 and 2025.

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

Against the rest of CA

55th most drought-prone of 58 CA counties; the CA middle is 4.6 in 10. Closest on the list: Mendocino County (3.8 in 10) and Sonoma County (3.5 in 10). Driest in CA: Imperial County (6.9 in 10). Least drought: Del Norte County (3.1 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Sep (39% of weeks), then Jul (37%) and Aug (35%). Least in Mar (21%). May to September averages 35%.

33 Jan
22 Feb
21 Mar
24 Apr
29 May
34 Jun
37 Jul
35 Aug
39 Sep
34 Oct
32 Nov
34 Dec

The worst year: 2014

2014: 52 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 31.3% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 19.1% at D2, 10% at D3, 46 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 149 weeks, May 7, 2013 to Mar 8, 2016.

Lately

Last drought year: 2022, 52 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 4.4 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 0 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.