Drought Information Statement for Southeast TX and Southwest LA
Valid February, 12, 2026
Issued By: WFO Lake Charles, LA
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated February,19,2026 or sooner if 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.
Drought conditions worsen across Southeast Texas and continue across much of Louisiana
1

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent

D3 (Extreme Drought): Avoyelles Parish

D2 (Severe Drought): Tyler, Hardin, west Jefferson, Jasper, west Orange and west Newton counties as well as Rapides, Evangeline and northern St Landry Parishes.

D1 (Moderate Drought): East Newton, East Orange, east Jefferson and Vernon, west Rapides, east Allen, south Evangeline, central St Landry, lower St Martin and St Mary parishes.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jeff Davis, Acadia, southern St Landry and Iberia parishes.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: Jefferson, East Hardin, South Tyler, Jasper and Newton counties in southeast Texas. Vernon, Allen, Evangeline, north Avoyelles, north St Landry, north Lafayette, Iberia, and St Mary parishes in southwest Louisiana
 
No Change: Cameron, Calcasieu, Beauregard, Jeff Davis, Acadia, Vermilion, Lafayette, St Martin, and Rapides parishes in southwest Louisiana

Precipitation
Some areas have seen significant precipitation over the last week leading to slight improvement in drought conditions


For the past 7 days

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Low flow continues on most area rivers (Source: National Water Prediction Service)

Agricultural Impacts
Both plant and animal farming are seeing significant negative impacts across central Louisiana. Animals require supplemental feed, decreased stock weight, animal stress and forced sales (Source: Reports from farmers in the region)

Fire Hazard Impacts
Despite ongoing drought, the significant fire potential risk is low (Source: National Interagency Fire Center)

Mitigation Actions
Outdoor burning should be performed with extreme caution where allowed. Several parishes/counties have issued burn bans


Average stream flows remain below normal to much below normal across much of the region with the lowest flows being observed across the Atchafalaya basin.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map Valid: 02 12 2026

Agricultural Impacts
Ongoing drought continues to stress regional crops with very low soil moisture

Fire Hazard Impacts
Despite the ongoing drought, significant Wildland fire potential remains low, but the risk is expected to increase in March should drought conditions worsen.


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
An area of low pressure and a cold front will move through the region this weekend. This disturbance is expected to produce between one and two inches of rainfall that will offer some improvement to ongoing drought conditions.


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook 
Drought conditions are expected to persist across southeast Texas and central Louisiana through the end of April