Drought in Waukesha County, WI: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

Waukesha County, WI: 7 of 26 full years had 13+ weeks in drought. About as drought-prone as a typical US county.

20002025

Drought years: 2003 (32 wk), 2005 (28 wk), 2012 (17 wk), 2021 (21 wk), 2022 (16 wk), 2023 (17 wk) and 2025 (13 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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 Jul, 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 (1.9 in 10).

Against the rest of WI

39th most drought-prone of 72 WI counties; the WI middle is 2.7 in 10. Closest on the list: Milwaukee County (2.7 in 10) and Racine County (2.3 in 10). Driest in WI: Barron County (4.6 in 10). Least drought: Fond du Lac County (0.8 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Jul (18% of weeks), then Aug (16%) and Sep (16%). Least in May (4%). May to September averages 13%.

9 Jan
11 Feb
11 Mar
11 Apr
4 May
11 Jun
18 Jul
16 Aug
16 Sep
13 Oct
13 Nov
10 Dec

The worst year: 2003

2003: 32 weeks in drought, peaking at D2 severe. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 12.1% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 2.9% at D2, 0.1% at D3, never any D4. Longest unbroken spell: 26 weeks, Jul 5, 2005 to Dec 27, 2005.

Lately

Last drought year: 2025, 13 weeks. 2016-2025: 4 in 10, against 1.9 in 10 for 2000-2015, drier lately. So far in 2026: 5 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.