Drought in Toombs County, GA: 3.5 years in 10 since 2000

3.5 years in 10

Toombs County, GA: 9 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (52 wk), 2001 (31 wk), 2002 (50 wk), 2006 (15 wk), 2007 (19 wk), 2008 (19 wk), 2011 (52 wk), 2012 (34 wk) and 2025 (19 wk). Not a single drought week in 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

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

Against the rest of GA

146th most drought-prone of 159 GA counties; the GA middle is 4.2 in 10. Closest on the list: Wayne County (3.5 in 10) and Catoosa County (3.5 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 Mar (35% of weeks), then May (32%) and Apr (31%). Least in Jul (18%). May to September averages 23%.

25 Jan
27 Feb
35 Mar
31 Apr
32 May
28 Jun
18 Jul
19 Aug
19 Sep
26 Oct
30 Nov
26 Dec

The worst year: 2000

2000: 52 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 26.2% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 15.9% at D2, 5.9% at D3, 21 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 88 weeks, Nov 9, 2010 to Jul 10, 2012.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 19 weeks. 2016-2025: 1 in 10, against 5 in 10 for 2000-2015, wetter lately. So far in 2026: 24 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.