Drought in Vermillion County, IN: 2.3 years in 10 since 2000

2.3 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (21 wk), 2012 (18 wk), 2022 (14 wk), 2023 (20 wk), 2024 (16 wk) and 2025 (24 wk). Not a single drought week in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

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

Drought has been more common in 2016-2025 (4 years in 10) than in 2000-2015 (1.3 in 10).

Against the rest of IN

13th most drought-prone of 92 IN counties; the IN middle is 1.5 in 10. Closest on the list: Marshall County (2.3 in 10) and Starke County (2.3 in 10). Driest in IN: LaGrange County (3.5 in 10). Least drought: Floyd County (0.4 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Oct (23% of weeks), then Nov (20%) and Dec (16%). Least in May (5%). May to September averages 10%.

8 Jan
9 Feb
8 Mar
6 Apr
5 May
9 Jun
13 Jul
8 Aug
15 Sep
23 Oct
20 Nov
16 Dec

The worst year: 2025

2025: 24 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 11.6% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 1.9% at D2, 0.4% at D3, 6 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 28 weeks, Sep 2, 2025 to Mar 10, 2026.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 24 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.3 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 12 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.