Sterling County rain, outlook and forecast
Most of Sterling County, TX was in severe drought (D2) on the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, and D2-or-worse drought has held there 6 weeks running. Over 90 days rain is at 94% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 211% (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain) and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 18% rain chance. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Sterling County with up to 1 monthly payment, and San Angelo is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 45 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 211% of normal
- Last 60 days 132% of normal
- Last 90 days 94% 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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-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 Mostly Cloudy, high 78°, low 64°, 4% rain, wind 10–15 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 83°, low 52°, 18% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 72°, low 46°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 75°, low 50°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 75°, low 45°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 69°, low 46°, 14% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 69°, low 46°, 15% 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 Sterling 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
A county next to Sterling County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Coke County, TX, Glasscock County, TX, Howard County, TX, Mitchell County, TX, Reagan County, TX, Tom Green County, TX). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.
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 45 mi | Oct 29 | $368 |
| Tulia 191 mi | Oct 29 | $386 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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 2 nearest barns
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Sterling County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Sterling County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 1 monthly payment 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 Sterling County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Sterling County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 100% of the county. 6 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Sterling County?
No burn ban is listed for Sterling County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Sterling County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: San Angelo (45 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Tulia (191 mi), last report Oct 29, 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.