Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for December 2025–February 2026. Dated March 2026.
Winter temperatures were well above normal across much of the Southern Region, with stations in the western portions of the Region being four to 8 °F above normal. Anomalies decrease towards the east where temperatures were more moderate. Precipitation was well below normal for almost the entire Southern Region.
The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is pleased to share our 2024 Annual Report to provide insight into the many accomplishments of the program over the previous year and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for September–November 2025. Dated December 2025.
Fall 2025 temperatures were above normal for the entirety of the Southern Region. The western portions of the Region saw the largest departures from normal, with temperatures running four to six degrees F above normal. Precipitation was below normal across most of the Southern Region during fall 2025, with some isolated totals that were well above normal.
In March 2020, Moderate to Severe Drought (D1-D2) intensified rapidly to Exceptional Drought (D4) along the lower Rio Grande in Texas, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Over the next five years, drought severity waxed and waned across the Southern Plains, shifting location and extent but never leaving the region. Drought touched the lives of nearly every resident of the Southern Plains states (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas).
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for June–August 2025. Dated September 2025.
Summer 2025 temperatures were near normal for the western portions of the Southern Region, while temperatures in the eastern half of the Region were above normal. Summer 2025 saw below average rainfall in the eastern portions of the Region and along the upper Texas coast. Precipitation was well above normal for Central Texas, much of North Texas, northern Oklahoma, Western Arkansas, and Far West Texas.
