Drought in Winneshiek County, IA: 2.7 years in 10 since 2000

2.7 years in 10

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

20002025

Drought years: 2003 (22 wk), 2008 (13 wk), 2012 (25 wk), 2013 (19 wk), 2021 (18 wk), 2023 (27 wk) and 2024 (33 wk). Not a single drought week in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

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.

Against the rest of IA

96th most drought-prone of 99 IA counties; the IA middle is 3.8 in 10. Closest on the list: Franklin County (2.7 in 10) and Allamakee County (2.3 in 10). Driest in IA: Wapello County (5.4 in 10). Least drought: Howard County (2.3 in 10).

When in the year it hits

Most often in Oct (23% of weeks), then Nov (21%) and Sep (19%). Least in Jun (5%). May to September averages 11%.

12 Jan
16 Feb
19 Mar
12 Apr
7 May
5 Jun
10 Jul
14 Aug
19 Sep
23 Oct
21 Nov
17 Dec

The worst year: 2024

2024: 33 weeks in drought, peaking at D3 extreme. Across 1,401 weekly maps: 14.4% of all weeks at D1 or worse, 5.9% at D2, 3.2% at D3, 1 weeks with some of the county in D4. Longest unbroken spell: 48 weeks, Jun 27, 2023 to May 21, 2024.

Lately

Last drought year: 2024, 33 weeks. 2016-2025: 3 in 10, against 2.5 in 10 for 2000-2015, about the same. So far in 2026: 0 of 44 weeks in drought, through Nov 3, 2026.