Severe drought conditions appear in Oklahoma and Kansas. Moderate drought conditions expand in parts of northern Texas, and Oklahoma and Kansas.
Key Points
- Dry conditions are developing (rapidly) over Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Texas panhandle.
- Very low soil moisture is impacting the winter wheat sowing.
- Drought forecast suggests that drought development is likely for most of the Southern Plains region in the coming season.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. Drought categories show experts’ assessments of conditions related to dryness and drought including observations of how much water is available in streams, lakes, and soils compared to usual for the same time of year.
This map shows drought conditions across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as of September 14, 2021.
U.S. Drought Monitor Categories
The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. Drought categories show experts’ assessments of conditions related to dryness and drought including observations of how much water is available in streams, lakes, and soils compared to usual for the same time of year.
This map shows drought conditions across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as of September 14, 2021.
U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions
- Severe drought (D2) conditions have appeared in Oklahoma and Kansas.
- Moderate drought (D1) conditions have expanded in parts of northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Drought Development Over the Past Month
Higher Temperatures and Evaporative Demand
- Over the last 4 weeks, the average temperatures over western Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles have been over 4ºF above normal for this time of year.
- This has caused increased evaporative demand, meaning any precipitation in these areas would evaporate from the landscape quickly.
30-Day Departure from Normal Temperature
4-Week Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) for September 10, 2021
Low Precipitation
- Precipitation over the last 30 days has been only about 25% of average for Oklahoma and northern Texas.
- Kansas rainfall mostly came quickly and ran off quickly with minimal benefit to surface conditions.
- The 60-day percentage of average shows precipitation less than 50% of the long-term average.
30-Day Percent of Normal Precipitation
60-Day Percent of Normal Precipitation
Drought and Precipitation Outlook
- Both the monthly and the seasonal drought outlook show drought conditions persisting or developing over Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.
- Odds slightly favor below-normal precipitation for the Southern Plains for the remainder of the year.
- Precipitation totals usually decline over the Fall season.
U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook: September 16–December 31, 2021
Three-Month Precipitation Outlook: October–December, 2021
For More Information
NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought updates as conditions evolve.
More local information is available from the following resources:
Prepared By
Joel Lisonbee
NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
Gary McManus
Oklahoma State Climatologist, Oklahoma Mesonet, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
Mary Knapp and Chip Redmond
Kansas State University
John Nielsen-Gammon
Texas State Climatologist, Texas A&M University
Cait Rottler
USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub
Clay Pope
CSP, LLC/USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub
This drought early warning update is issued in partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the offices of the state climatologist for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kansas. The purpose of the update is to communicate a potential area of concern for drought expansion and/or development within the Southern Plains based on recent conditions and the upcoming forecast. NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought updates as conditions evolve.
