Stephens County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Stephens County, TX was in moderate drought (D1), with 8% at severe drought (D2), and D2-or-worse drought has held there 6 weeks running. Stephens County has had 158% 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 6-10 day outlook for Nov 6–10 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 50% on Monday (high 84°). Stephens County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and San Angelo is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 130 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 158% of normal
- Last 60 days 120% 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 6–10) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 8–14) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Oct 31, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Partly Sunny, high 82°, low 65°, 5% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 84°, low 57°, 50% rain, wind 5–20 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 75°, low 49°, 1% rain, wind 0–15 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 75°, low 49°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 77°, low 47°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 73°, low 48°, 15% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 74°, low 49°, 21% rain, wind 0–5 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 Stephens 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
Stephens 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)
5-wt steers, nearest barns
Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.
| Barn | Last sale | 5-wt steers |
|---|---|---|
| San Angelo 130 mi | Oct 29 | $368 |
| Apache 152 mi | Oct 29 | $429 |
| Ada 188 mi | Oct 28 | $415 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt, per 100 lb), calculated from USDA AMS Market News sale reports (Medium & Large 1 and 1-2). Not a USDA-published average. ≈ $/head = $/cwt × the middle of the weight class ÷ 100.
Guide: How to read a USDA sale barn report
All weights at the 3 nearest barns
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Stephens County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Stephens County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 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 Stephens County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Stephens County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 8% of the county. 6 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Stephens County?
Yes, a burn ban is in effect for Stephens County (since Oct 20, 2025). Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Stephens County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: San Angelo (130 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Apache (152 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Ada (188 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 13, 2026: Apply for NRCS conservation cost-share (EQIP, CSP, ACEP) to be considered for 2027 money; 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.