Texas, 2026

Drought in Texas, May 1 to 27, 2026

May 1 to 27, 2026 · NWS SHV · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Severe (D2) drought continued across portions of East Texas through the first three plus weeks of May, as below normal rainfall remained a common theme across the area since early Fall 2025. S.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
4

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 SHV wrote it up.

Severe (D2) drought continued across portions of East Texas through the first three plus weeks of May, as below normal rainfall remained a common theme across the area since early Fall 2025. However, widespread rainfall amounts of 1.50 to 2.00+ inches fell across much of Rusk, Gregg, San Augustine, and Sabine Counties between the 19th and 26th, resulting in a one category improvement to Moderate (D1) drought across these areas by the May 28th release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 2.50-4+ inches across Rusk and Gregg Counties, and between 5-8+ inches across San Augustine and Sabine Counties, which was near to as much as twice the monthly normals. Thus, some improvement to pasture greenup, stock pond levels, and streamflows across area rivers, bayous, and creeks were observed by month's end.

Extreme (D3) and Severe (D2) drought continued across North Louisiana throughout the month of May, as below normal rainfall remained a common theme across the area since early Fall 2025. May monthly rainfall totals ranged from 2-4 inches across Northwest Louisiana, and from 4-8+ inches across the West-central and North-central Louisiana. Thus, the drier areas observed amounts that were 50-75% of their normal monthly rainfall, with the wetter areas observing near to as much as two times their normal monthly rainfall. Despite the wetness across much of these drought stricken areas, little runoff was produced given the long term dryness and thus, ag producers continued to struggle with delayed and little greenup, requiring feed to be provided to their livestock, much below normal to dry stock pond levels and thus, water had to be brought in, a culling of their cattle herds, as well as much below normal streamflow across the area rivers, bayous, and creeks.

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 30, 11:56 PM CST, 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Issued at 1236 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026
  • Showers will continue throughout the day today and overnight, coming to an end by daybreak Saturday. Accumulations of 1-3 inches are possible, and may lead to localized flash flooding hazards.
  • The weekend will be quiet, dry, and cooler than average, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s.
  • Next week will begin with a warming trend, with scattered storms returning by the middle of the week.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 11:56 PM CST, 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1256 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 1236 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

 - Showers will continue throughout the day today and overnight,
   coming to an end by daybreak Saturday. Accumulations of 1-3
   inches are possible, and may lead to localized flash flooding
   hazards.

 - The weekend will be quiet, dry, and cooler than average, with
   lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s.

 - Next week will begin with a warming trend, with scattered
   storms returning by the middle of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1236 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

The frontal boundary draped across the Gulf Coast will still be in
place today, and will continue to channel lower level moisture into
the ArkLaTex on west to east flow. Resulting showers will thus
continue throughout the day Friday and much of the overnight hours,
ending between midnight and daybreak Saturday morning. Total
accumulations look to range from less than half an inch along and
north of I-30, to between 1 and 2 inches along the I-20 corridor,
and greater than 2 inches south of I-20. The potential still
exists for resulting flash flooding, particularly in urban areas
affected by periods of locally heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, these periods of prolonged rainfall and the associated
cloud cover will keep temperatures cool, only climbing into the 60s
this afternoon. Overnight, lows will fall into the 50s with a few
upper 40s possible north. By Saturday, a large area of upper level
ridging and building surface high pressure advances into the deep
south, finally kicking the stationary boundary into motion, and
allowing afternoon highs to climb into the 70s across the ArkLaTex
under clearing skies, a good 5-10 degrees below average. This cooler-
than-normal spell will continue through the weekend, with lows in
the mid to upper 40s expected Sunday morning, followed by highs in
the upper 70s.

A warm up to more seasonable highs in the 80s is expected to begin
the new work week, with quiet weather continuing Monday before as
slight chance of thunder returns to our northeastern zones Tuesday,
becoming more widespread by the middle of the week as a series of
weak disturbances attempt to emerge in the upper level flow, before
conditions quiet down again by the tail end of this extended
forecast period.

/26/

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1246 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

For the 01/06Z TAF period, expect deteriorating flight conditions
throughout the period as cigs/vsby continue to lower to MVFR/IFR
with the onset of moderate to occasionally heavy rain along and
south of the I-20 terminals. Farther north at KTXK and KELD, rain
will be more sparse in coverage with TEMPO conditions to account
for intermittent occurrence early this morning while the majority
of convection will likely remain south of these two terminals for
much of the day on Friday. However, cigs will still drop at these
northern sites as well, just not quite as low with mainly low VFR
to occasional MVFR cigs during the period. Otherwise, expect N/NE
winds generally ranging between 5-10 kts with some gusts possible
during Monday afternoon as heavier rain impacts most terminals.
Convection should begin to taper off very late in the period with
the exception of KMLU where it will likely persist through 02/06Z.

/19/

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Issued at 1236 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Spotter activation is not likely through tomorrow, but any reports
of hazardous weather to the National Weather Service are appreciated.

/26/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  59  51  71  48 /  90  80   0   0
MLU  61  51  72  47 /  90  90   0   0
DEQ  66  46  72  43 /  30  20   0   0
TXK  63  50  73  48 /  50  40   0   0
ELD  62  47  71  44 /  60  60   0   0
TYR  58  50  71  50 /  90  60   0   0
GGG  58  49  71  48 /  90  70   0   0
LFK  60  50  72  48 / 100  80   0   0

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
LA...None.
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...26
AVIATION...19

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Gregg

When
May 1, 12:00 AM CST to May 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Gregg forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.481, -94.817 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rusk

When
May 1, 12:00 AM CST to May 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Rusk forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.108, -94.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Augustine

When
May 1, 12:00 AM CST to May 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where
San Augustine forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.394, -94.168 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Sabine

When
May 1, 12:00 AM CST to May 27, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Sabine forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.343, -93.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2026

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: 1340517, 1340518, 1340519, 1340520.