Extreme drought expands across Austin area as Central Texas conditions worsen

January 16, 2026

New analysis of regional drought conditions shows Central Texas has grown drier in recent updates, and the portion classified as 'extreme' drought has expanded by about 4 percent. The change is concentrated around the Austin area, where lake and soil moisture levels have been closely monitored by officials.

The U.S. Drought Monitor maps the area and applies the 'extreme' label when conditions are severe enough to threaten water supplies and vegetation. That classification shift reflects persistent dry weather across multiple counties and follows weeks with below-normal precipitation.

National Weather Service forecasters have placed rain in the forecast for next week, offering a potential reprieve for parched soils and reservoirs. Forecasters caution, however, that uncertainty remains about how much rain will fall and precisely where showers will develop, so any relief is not yet assured.

Local water managers and fire officials are watching the situation because prolonged dryness can increase demand on municipal supplies and raise the threat of wildfires. Small changes in rainfall can have an outsized effect on short-term fire danger and on drought indicators used to guide restrictions or resource planning.

Residents can track updates from the Drought Monitor and the National Weather Service as models and observations evolve. Officials typically adjust advisories and resource responses as new data arrive, and they urge the public to remain prepared for continued dry conditions until significant, sustained rainfall occurs.

I will continue to monitor updates from federal and local agencies and report any changes to drought classifications or water-use guidance that could affect Austin-area communities.