Sixth year of drought in Texas and Oklahoma continues into 2026

A drought that began in 2020 has entered its sixth year in parts of the Southern Plains, including Texas and Oklahoma, and has contributed to wildfires and widespread water and agricultural losses.

The Southern Plains drought that began in 2020 has persisted into 2026, affecting Texas and Oklahoma and contributing to wildfires reported in early 2026. Ranchers and water managers continue to face low reservoir and groundwater levels even after heavy rains and storms in some areas in 2025. Researchers identify rising temperatures, repeated La Niña winters and existing water shortages as key reasons the drought has endured. The region was still recovering from a 2010–2015 drought when the 2020 event began, which amplified economic impacts. What is known: - The drought began in 2020 and produced multiple rapid "flash drought" events from 2020–2025. - Five of the past six years have shown a La Niña pattern, which likely contributed to drier, warmer winters in parts of the Southern Plains. - Rivers, reservoirs and groundwater are well below average in many areas; San Antonio reservoirs and the Edwards Aquifer reached record-low levels in 2024–2025 and remained low into 2026. - Economic losses from 2020 through 2024 across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are estimated at about US$23.6 billion, and cattle herds and several major crops experienced large declines or abandonment. Summary: The prolonged drought has reduced water supplies and strained ranching and farming operations across the Southern Plains. With La Niña fading in early 2026 and a possible shift toward El Niño later in the year, wetter conditions could occur in fall and winter 2026, but the region must still move through spring and summer when drought could worsen. Undetermined at this time.