Drought in Screven County, GA: 4.2 years in 10 since 2000

4.2 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (52 wk), 2001 (35 wk), 2002 (50 wk), 2007 (25 wk), 2008 (22 wk), 2011 (46 wk), 2012 (41 wk), 2015 (16 wk), 2019 (25 wk), 2022 (14 wk) and 2025 (20 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2005, 2014, 2016 and 2021.

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

Against the rest of GA

78th most drought-prone of 159 GA counties; the GA middle is 4.2 in 10. Closest on the list: Taylor County (4.2 in 10) and Early County (4.2 in 10). Driest in GA: Berrien County (5.8 in 10). Least drought: Gilmer County (2.7 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in May (40% of weeks), then Mar (36%) and Apr (35%). Least in Feb (23%). May to September averages 32%.

28 Jan
23 Feb
36 Mar
35 Apr
40 May
30 Jun
32 Jul
29 Aug
29 Sep
31 Oct
32 Nov
30 Dec

The worst year: 2000

2000: 52 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 31.3% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 14.4% at D2, 7.6% at D3, 20 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 73 weeks, Mar 22, 2011 to Aug 7, 2012.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 20 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 5 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 39 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.