Drought Information Statement for Southeast TX and Southwest LA
Valid September 24, 2026
Issued By: WFO Lake Charles, LA
Contact Information: 
This product will will be updated October 01, 2026 unless drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/LCH/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.
Small expansion of the D2 drought from last week.
Conditions largely to improve or remain the same for a majority of the area.


U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought Intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): 
S Vernon, Beauregard, E Calcasieu, Acadia, NE Cameron, Jeff Davis, Allen, W Evangeline
D1 (Moderate Drought): 
N Jasper, N Newton, Vernon, W Calcasieu, Cameron, Vermilion, Rapides, Avoyelles, Evangeline, St. Landry, Upper St Martin, Lafayette 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Jasper, C Newton, Orange, Jefferson, Lower St Martin, St Mary

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: 
S Vernon, Beauregard, E Calcasieu, NE Cameron, Jeff Davis, Allen, W Evangeline, Acadia, S St Landry, Lafayette, Upper St Martin, Iberia, Lower St Martin, St Mary

Drought Improved: 
Tyler, Hardin, Jefferson, Jasper, Orange, Newton

Precipitation
Portions of SETX saw high rainfall amounts that led to flash flooding as a result of Tropical Storm Edouard. 

Other areas mainly saw rainfall from some weaker non tropical systems and afternoon showers / storms. 

Temperature
Over the last week and last month, temperatures have remained above normal for the forecast area, with some well above temperatures noted across the inland areas.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Stream flows are below normal across the area with the exception to the Neches River.

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
There are burn bans in effect for Vernon and Beauregard Parishes, along with an uptick in wildfires. 

Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.

While normal flows are noted along the Neches River, mainly below normal flows have been observed.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Agricultural Impacts
Soil moisture remains below normal across the area with shallow short term soil moisture well below normal across central Louisiana.

Fire Hazard Impacts
As of 09/24/26, no burn bans are in effect for our SETX Counties. We have two burn bans in effect for our LA Parishes in Vernon and Beauregard.

Wildfire potential is expected to remain above normal for the remainder of the month, then fall to normal in October.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Rainfall amounts are expected to range from 0.75 to 2.0  inches across the area over the next seven days. Most of this precipitation will fall early to mid next week with the pattern shifting as moisture from a tropical system in the Pacific interacts with an incoming upper level system.

Long-Range Outlooks
Rainfall is expected to be above normal from October through the end of the year with temperatures near normal.

Drought Outlook
Largely drought conditions are expected to end or improve for nearly the entire forecast area.