Drought in Smyth County, VA: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

Smyth County, VA: 6 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (19 wk), 2001 (30 wk), 2002 (27 wk), 2007 (38 wk), 2008 (47 wk) and 2024 (14 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2025.

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.

Against the rest of VA

46th most drought-prone of 133 VA counties; the VA middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Clarke County (2.3 in 10) and Amelia County (2.3 in 10). Driest in VA: Halifax County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Covington City (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Dec (24% of weeks), then Jan (21%) and Nov (20%). Least in May (8%). May to September averages 13%.

21 Jan
15 Feb
19 Mar
15 Apr
8 May
15 Jun
15 Jul
11 Aug
14 Sep
18 Oct
20 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2008

2008: 47 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 16.1% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6.1% at D2, 1.4% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 49 weeks, May 22, 2007 to Apr 22, 2008.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 14 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 25 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.