Drought in Somerset County, MD: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2002 (42 wk), 2007 (25 wk), 2008 (19 wk), 2010 (14 wk), 2012 (18 wk) and 2025 (17 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022.

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 Apr, the month drought is most common here. Put beds on drip before the next dry year.

Against the rest of MD

6th most drought-prone of 24 MD counties; the MD middle is 1.9 in 10. Closest on the list: Dorchester County (2.3 in 10) and Washington County (2.3 in 10). Driest in MD: Wicomico County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Garrett County (1.2 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Apr (22% of weeks), then Jul (19%) and Dec (17%). Least in Oct (12%). May to September averages 15%.

15 Jan
15 Feb
14 Mar
22 Apr
13 May
13 Jun
19 Jul
16 Aug
16 Sep
12 Oct
13 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2002

2002: 42 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 15.4% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 6.3% at D2, 0.9% at D3, 2 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 51 weeks, Oct 30, 2001 to Oct 15, 2002.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 17 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 3.1 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 29 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.