Cotton County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Cotton County, OK in severe drought (D2), with 8% at extreme drought (D3); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 13 straight weeks. Cotton County has had 185% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 84% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the NWS forecast peaks at a 60% rain chance on Monday (high 83°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Cotton County with up to 5 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Apache, 42 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 185% of normal
- Last 60 days 113% of normal
- Last 90 days 84% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 7–11) Leans toward near-normal rain
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 9–15) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Partly Sunny, high 79°, low 63°, 4% rain, wind 6–15 mph
- Monday Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, high 83°, low 56°, 60% rain, wind 10–24 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 73°, low 47°, 0% rain, wind 5–21 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 73°, low 46°, 15% rain, wind 5–7 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 72°, low 45°, 8% rain, wind 5–9 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 71°, low 47°, 7% rain, wind 5–7 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 73°, low 48°, 23% rain, wind 5–9 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Cotton County right now. A 30-day window opens when the county first hits severe drought (D2), jumps to D3 or D4, or after a blizzard, extreme heat or cold, flood or ice warning, a wildfire, or a USDA disaster designation. Keep a Drought Ledger.
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.
Drought-sale tax flag IRS list
Cotton County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (severe or worse drought, Sep 1, 2025 to Aug 31, 2026).
Why it matters: if you sold breeding, dairy or draft livestock because of drought, the tax code may let you put off the gain (more time to buy replacement animals, or report the extra-sale income a year later). Your tax preparer decides whether either applies.
Work out your numbers and print a page for your preparer
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides program eligibility. IRS Notice 2026-54 (PDF)
Loading prices…
Loading drought…
Loading programs…
Weather for Cotton County
Forecast for the center point of Cotton County.
- Today Partly Sunny 79° 63° SE 6–15 mph 4% rain
- Mon Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 83° 56° S 10–24 mph 60% rain
- Tue Sunny 73° 47° NW 5–21 mph 0% rain
- Wed Sunny 73° 46° WNW 5–7 mph 15% rain
- Thu Sunny 72° 45° NNE 5–9 mph 8% rain
- Fri Sunny 71° 47° N 5–7 mph 7% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 73° 48° WSW 5–9 mph 23% rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind arrows point where the wind is going; the letters say where it comes from. Windy = 25 mph or more; freeze = a low of 32°F or less. Open the full forecast.
Burn ban
No burn ban
Oklahoma Forestry Services burn-ban map, which carries county commissioners' bans and the Governor's burn-ban proclamations (source, rules). County row as of Oct 29, 2026. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Weather warnings right now
None right now
National Weather Service active alerts for this county, as of Nov 1, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Rainfall vs normal
How to read this
Bars are the rain that fell each month; the dashed line is a normal month (1991-2020 average). Bars below the line = drier than normal.
County-average precipitation, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. Normal = NCEI's own 1991-2020 average for each month (Sep 2026 normal 3.16 in; same month last year 2.38 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Oct 30, 2026.
Wildfires
No current fire perimeter in the county
No current perimeter within 100 mi of the county center (83 mapped nationally).
Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 1, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Frost dates
Frost and freeze dates
30-year averages (1991–2020) from the weather stations nearest Cotton County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Lawton Muni Ap weather station (19 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 217-day growing season |
Apr 1 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 19 |
Nov 5 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 22 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 240-day growing season |
Mar 18 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 5 |
Nov 14 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 30 |
Walters weather station (6 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 218-day growing season |
Apr 1 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 18 |
Nov 5 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 22 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 239-day growing season |
Mar 19 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 5 |
Nov 14 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 31 |
short record Based on only 13 years of records here (30 is normal), so treat it as rougher.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Lawton Muni Ap, Walters), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
Loading money…
Loading deadlines…
Loading land…
Common questions and nearby counties
Is Cotton County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Cotton County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 monthly payments for some pasture types. FSA decides each operation's eligibility; apply at your county FSA office by March 1 after the loss year.
What is the drought level in Cotton County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Cotton County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was extreme drought (D3) on 8% of the county. 13 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Cotton County?
No burn ban is listed for Cotton County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Cotton County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Apache (42 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; El Reno (90 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Ada (102 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 1, 2026: Property taxes due (bills payable from November 1); Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance. FSA program dates not posted officially are marked "confirm at source" on the calendar.
Source: official agency pages (see Calendar)
Information only; not financial or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Always check the linked official source.