Drought Information Statement for the Mid-South Valid September 18, 2025 Issued By: NWS Memphis, TN Contact Information: nws.memphis@noaa.gov This product will be updated when drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/MEG/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. Hot and dry conditions continue to worsen ongoing drought Extreme drought conditions introduced in the Missouri Bootheel, West Tennessee, and northeast Arkansas REQUIRED SLIDE 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought) None D3 (Extreme Drought) Portions of West Tennessee, the Missouri Bootheel, and northeast Arkansas D2 (Severe Drought) Portions of West Tennessee, northeast Arkansas, and northwest Mississippi D1 (Moderate Drought) Portions of eastern Arkansas, north Mississippi, and a sliver of West Tennessee D0 (Abnormally Dry) Portions of northeast Mississippi REQUIRED SLIDE Recent Change in Drought Intensity One-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened The Missouri Bootheel, West Tennessee, northeast Arkansas, and northwest Mississippi Drought Improved None No Change The remainder of the Mid-South Can match the highlighted color to the worst/best category on the map, non required slide. Precipitation Precipitation totals over the past 30 days generally ranged from 0.01-3 inches Rainfall amounts over the past 30 days were widely below normal across the region REQUIRED SLIDE Temperature Average temperatures were above normal to above normal by 1-8 degrees over the last week Average temperatures were above normal by 1-6 degrees over the last 30 days Non required slide. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Streamflow is normal to much below normal across the lower Mississippi Basin and the Tennessee River basin. The Mississippi River is falling below low water thresholds Agricultural Impacts Pastures provide very little or no feed. Supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition across West Tennessee, north Mississippi, and northeast Arkansas Extreme degree of loss to yield potential, complete or near crop failure across northwest Tennessee Fire Hazard Impacts The following counties in Arkansas are under a burn ban: Clay, Crittenden, Greene, and Poinsett Other Impacts There are no known additional impacts at this time Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information REQUIRED SLIDE Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts The Mississippi River at Memphis is currently experiencing near normal flow. The extended river forecasts continues to show water levels continuing below low water thresholds The Tennessee River feeds into the Mississippi River and is experiencing normal to below normal flow at Savannah, TN, and Kentucky Lake Mississippi River Tennessee River Image caption: USGS Streamflow Non-required slide. If streamflows are non-impactful can use soil moisture, groundwater, reservoir and lake levels, or snowpack. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture anomalies are widely below normal across the Mid-South (20th percentile or less across most of the area) The crop moisture index is below normal across the Mid-South Non-required slide. Fire Hazard Impacts Normal wildland fire is expected for the entire Mid-South for the rest of September and October Burn Bans currently in effect for: Arkansas: Clay, Crittenden, Greene, and Poinsett Missouri: None Mississippi: None Tennessee: None Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Non-required slide, but please limit to 2 images per slide. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Forecast precipitation over the next week is less than an inch Non-required slide Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14-day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Ongoing drought conditions may persist or worsen Portions of north Mississippi are at risk for rapid onset drought Non required slide Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid MM YYYY Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid MM to MM YYYY Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The Mid-South has equal chances of experiencing above or below normal temperatures for the remainder of September The Mid-South has equal chances of experiencing above or below normal precipitation for the remainder of September Non-required slide Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released MM DD, YYYY valid for MM-MM YYYY Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought conditions are expected to develop and/or persist across the Mid-South through November Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook REQUIRED SLIDE, can use monthly or seasonal.