Southern Plains Drought Early Warning System Partners Meeting

Much of the Southern Plains region has experienced ongoing and costly drought for most of the last 5 years, with steady improvement over summer 2026. The 2020–2025 Southern Plains Drought Assessment noted existing gaps in current drought early warning, highlighting the importance of regular regional discussions to improve collaboration among partners in the Southern Plains. 

NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is partnering with the Southern Regional Climate Center and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and Texas Sate University to host a Southern Plains Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Partners Meeting on August 25–26, 2026. This gathering will provide an opportunity for partners in the Southern Plains DEWS to share and discuss ideas to improve drought early warning in the region and contribute to the regional strategic plan. 

Meeting Goals

• Discuss needed advancements to drought early warning, which includes drought monitoring, prediction, response, planning/preparedness, and communication. 
• Explore emerging drought issues in the region and potential opportunities to address these issues as a regional network. 
• Provide an opportunity to network and learn from one another on the topic of drought. 
• Collaborate on goals and activities that will advance drought early warning and preparedness across the Southern Plains.

Who Should Attend?

In this case, a DEWS partner is any group or organization working to improve resilience to drought in the region, including through the provision of weather data and forecasts. This dialogue is particularly relevant to those entities that engage in any of the following activities:

• Provide information on climate conditions, extremes (especially drought) and impacts
• Monitor/predict changing climate conditions including drought
• Engage in drought or water planning 
• Utilize weather and climate information in decision-making
• Conduct research related to drought monitoring, prediction, planning or risk

Meeting Details

When

• Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 12–5:30 p.m. CT
• Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. CT

Where

STAR One Conference Center
3055 Hunter Road
San Marcos, TX 78666-4684

While in-person attendance is encouraged and preferred, a virtual option will be available.

Cost

Agenda

View the meeting agenda.

For more information, please contact joel.lisonbee@noaa.gov.