Drought in Strafford County, NH: 3.1 years in 10 since 2000

3.1 years in 10

Strafford County, NH: 8 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2001 (15 wk), 2002 (27 wk), 2015 (24 wk), 2016 (38 wk), 2017 (17 wk), 2020 (27 wk), 2024 (15 wk) and 2025 (39 wk). Not a single drought week in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2023.

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

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (5 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.9 in 10).

Against the rest of NH

1st most drought-prone of 10 NH counties; the NH middle is 2.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Rockingham County (3.1 in 10). Least drought: Grafton County (1.5 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Sep (28% of weeks), then Oct (26%) and Dec (24%). Least in May (9%). May to September averages 18%.

18 Jan
18 Feb
14 Mar
17 Apr
9 May
16 Jun
18 Jul
21 Aug
28 Sep
26 Oct
23 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2025

2025: 39 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 19.3% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 8.7% at D2, 1.2% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 65 weeks, Aug 12, 2025 to Nov 3, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 39 weeks. 2016-2025: 5 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 44 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.