Ward County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Ward County, TX in moderate drought (D1), with 3% at severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 6 straight weeks. Rain has run 177% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 74% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 19% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 6–10 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Ward County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Roswell is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 154 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 177% of normal
- Last 60 days 109% of normal
- Last 90 days 74% 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 (40% 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 Mostly Cloudy, high 81°, low 62°, 2% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Monday Sunny, high 81°, low 54°, 0% rain, wind 5–25 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 72°, low 49°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 75°, low 51°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 75°, low 48°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 51°, 15% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 73°, low 50°, 19% rain, wind 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 Ward 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 Ward County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Ector County, TX, Loving County, TX, Pecos County, TX, Reeves 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Roswell 154 mi | Oct 26 | $383 |
| San Angelo 157 mi | Oct 29 | $368 |
| Clovis 199 mi | Oct 28 | $394 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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 Ward County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Ward 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 Ward County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Ward County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 3% of the county. 6 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Ward County?
Yes, a burn ban is in effect for Ward County (since Mar 8, 2021). Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Ward County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Roswell (154 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; San Angelo (157 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Clovis (199 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.