Drought Update for October 13, 2026
This Week's U.S. Drought Monitor Map of Alabama
Statewide Condition Summary
What's Changed? Much of the eastern half of the state and parts of the Gulf Coast have returned to near-normal conditions. There were also slight reductions in Moderate (D1) and Severe (D2) drought in parts of West Central Alabama.
What's New? Hurricane Isaias brought much-needed rainfall to the central and eastern parts of Alabama, improving conditions across much of the state. However, dry conditions persist in parts of western and northwestern Alabama, where some areas continue to see limited rainfall.
What's Next? With little to no rain in the upcoming forecast, expect conditions to remain the same or worsen slightly in areas with the greatest precipitation deficits.
Statewide Coverage by Category
| Category | Coverage This Week | Changes Since Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| D0: Abnormally Dry | 38.48% | 1.53% |
| D1: Moderate Drought | 23.97% | 13.48% |
| D2: Severe Drought | 8.10% | 3.01% |
| D3: Extreme Drought | 0.75% | 0.78% |
| D4: Exceptional Drought | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Source: US Drought Monitor, authored by Lindsay Johnson (National Drought Mitigation Center) with input from the Alabama Office of the State Climatologist
This week, 71% of Alabama is experiencing Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions or some level of drought, including 24% in Moderate Drought (D1), 8% in Severe Drought (D2), and less than 1% in Extreme Drought (D3). Much of the eastern half of the state and parts of the Gulf Coast benefited from rainfall associated with Hurricane Isaias, bringing several areas back to near-normal conditions and reducing D1 and D2 drought in parts of West Central Alabama. However, dry conditions persist across western and northwestern Alabama, where limited rainfall continues to contribute to precipitation deficits. With little to no rainfall expected in the coming week, conditions could remain steady or worsen slightly in the driest areas.
Download the Alabama Drought Update Graphic
Alabama Drought in the News
- Some Parts of Alabama are Finally Drought-Free Leigh Morgan with AL.com| June 2, 2026
Drought Resources
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs: Office of Water Resources
- Alabama Drought Reach: Auburn University Water Resources Center
- U.S. Drought Monitor for Alabama
- Alabama Drought.gov page
- NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
- NIDIS Southeast Drought Early Warning System (DEWS)
- Report drought conditions with CMOR
- Report daily rainfall with CoCoRaHS
- Assessing drought in the United States