Texas, 2025

Drought in Texas, September 30, 2025

September 30, 2025 · NWS EWX · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS EWX wrote it up.

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 30, 5:23 AM CST, 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Warm days and mild nights continue through early next week.
  • Isolated rains may return near the Coastal Plains this weekend into early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 30, 5:23 AM CST, 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
623 AM CDT Tue Sep 30 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm days and mild nights continue through early next week.

- Isolated rains may return near the Coastal Plains this weekend
  into early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM (THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...
A mid level shortwave and associated thin band of very light rain
will exit to our east this morning. Radar returns have been on the
decline over the last few hours as dry lower levels take their toll.
Only trace amounts are now possible until it exits.

Lower to mid level ridging will resume today and continue for the
next few days. After a slight "cooling" of high temperatures Monday
due to the thick cirrus, mostly clear skies will allow for a return
of high temperatures around 5 degrees above late September into
early October averages while lows remain closer to average.

&&

.LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...
Mid level ridging remains over our area this weekend into next week.
However, mid level troughing moving over the western states induces
surface pressure falls in the Plains. This allows a moister lower
level airmass to slowly spread into our area. This may result in
slight chances of showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two each
afternoon into early evening due to the seabreeze primarily over
Lavaca and De Witt counties this weekend, then possibly approaching
the I-35 corridor by the middle of next week. Daily temperature
ranges shrink due to the increased moisture, however both highs and
lows will remain above average.

&&

.AVIATION (12Z TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...
VFR conditions through the TAF period. High clouds are exiting
east of the region early this morning with mainly clear skies
through the day. Variable winds less than 5 KT early this
morning, becoming NE to E around 5 KT this afternoon for most
locations, SE along the Rio Grande.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
With minimum humidities in the 20s and 30s each day under ample
sunshine, vegetation will continue to dry. Although wind speeds
should be 10 mph or less, the drying conditions will make the
environment more vulnerable to fire starts.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Austin Camp Mabry              96  69  96 /   0   0   0
Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport  95  65  96 /   0   0   0
New Braunfels Muni Airport     95  66  95 /   0   0   0
Burnet Muni Airport            91  66  92 /   0   0   0
Del Rio Intl Airport           96  69  96 /   0   0   0
Georgetown Muni Airport        93  66  94 /   0   0   0
Hondo Muni Airport             95  66  95 /   0   0   0
San Marcos Muni Airport        97  64  97 /   0   0   0
La Grange - Fayette Regional   95  66  95 /   0   0   0
San Antonio Intl Airport       95  69  95 /   0   0   0
Stinson Muni Airport           97  70  97 /   0   0   0

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM...04
AVIATION...76
FIRE WEATHER...04

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Bastrop

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bastrop forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.104, -97.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Caldwell

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.837, -97.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Comal

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comal forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, De Witt

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
De Witt forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.082, -97.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Fayette

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.877, -96.920 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Gonzales

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Gonzales forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.457, -97.492 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Hays

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hays forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.058, -98.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Karnes

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Karnes forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
28.906, -97.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Travis

When
September 30, 6:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Travis forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.335, -97.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

September rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in most counties. De Witt and Fayette Counties saw the worst change from no drought to Severe (D2) Drought category. Bastrop, Gonzales, Hays, and Travis Counties went from Abnormally Dry (D0) to D2. Guadalupe, Wilson, Caldwell, Comal, and Karnes went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in Extreme (D3) Drought and Atascosa, Frio, and Kinney stayed in D2. At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado, Blanco, San Marcos, lower San Antonio, and Atascosa Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) to below normal on the upper Nueces River. The Edwards Aquifer rose 0.1 feet but was 33.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 0.9 feet and was 81.5 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.2 feet and was 9.7 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 17.7 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, September 2025

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1294861, 1294862, 1294863, 1294864, 1294865, 1294866, 1294867, 1294868, 1294869.