By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Drought conditions continue to expand across Texas, with warm temperatures and limited rainfall in the forecast.

The latest Water Weekly drought map from the Texas Water Development Board showed an increase in drought coverage for the eighth week in the last 10 weeks.

Drought coverage has now reached its largest extent since mid-November 2025, and dry conditions are expected to worsen in the coming weeks without significant rainfall.

In areas such as Bexar County, monthly Palmer Drought Severity Index values below zero occurred from 1949 to 1957 and again from 2010 to 2014. The current drought, which began in 2019, has nearly matched the intensity of the 2010 to 2014 drought and is approaching the duration of the 1949 to 1957 drought, raising concern among farmers and ranchers.

Without significant precipitation, a quarter of the state could succumb to drought conditions in the next few weeks.

The ongoing dry conditions are already creating challenges for agriculture across the state.

“Ranchers are having to supplement additional feed and hay because winter grazing is below average for this time of year,” Tracy Tomascik, associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “And with soil moisture already depleted, dry conditions going into spring planting raise real concerns for crop farmers trying to get a solid start to the season.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor released Jan. 15, temperatures were above normal across most of Texas. Moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions expanded across much of the Panhandle, while moderate to severe drought intensified in East Texas and coastal southeast Texas. Deep south Texas continues to see worsening drought conditions.

Looking ahead, forecasts suggest little immediate relief for large portions of the state.

The seasonal drought outlook through the end of March anticipates drought expansion along the Texas coast, West and Central Texas and across much of the Panhandle. Portions of the northeast corner of the state are expected to remain drought free.