Drought in Wabaunsee County, KS: 3.8 years in 10 since 2000

3.8 years in 10

Wabaunsee County, KS: 10 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. More drought-prone than most US counties.

20002025

Drought years: 2000 (17 wk), 2002 (17 wk), 2003 (22 wk), 2011 (18 wk), 2012 (31 wk), 2013 (22 wk), 2014 (18 wk), 2018 (34 wk), 2023 (19 wk) and 2024 (14 wk). Not a single drought week in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Plan for drought as normal: shrink the lawn, go drip and natives

Drought is the normal state of things here. Most of the yard goes to natives and gravel on drip; any grass that stays is a small, tough patch.

If you are replacing turf, plant natives in fall so roots set before the Nov peak, and check your water utility for a turf-removal rebate before you dig.

Against the rest of KS

77th most drought-prone of 105 KS counties; the KS middle is 4.2 in 10. Closest on the list: Wyandotte County (3.8 in 10) and Johnson County (3.8 in 10). Driest in KS: Morton County (6.9 in 10). Least drought: Dickinson County (2.7 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Nov (30% of weeks), then Oct (29%) and Dec (24%). Least in Feb (8%). May to September averages 16%.

12 Jan
8 Feb
11 Mar
14 Apr
12 May
10 Jun
15 Jul
22 Aug
22 Sep
29 Oct
30 Nov
24 Dec

The worst year: 2018

2018: 34 weeks in drought, peaking at D4 exceptional. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 17.3% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 7.6% at D2, 3.7% at D3, 12 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 53 weeks, May 29, 2012 to May 28, 2013.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 14 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 4.4 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 0 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.