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 16% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% 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 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 Partly Sunny, high 81°, low 63°, 2% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Monday Sunny, high 81°, low 54°, 3% rain, wind 5–20 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 71°, low 49°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 76°, low 51°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 73°, low 48°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 50°, 15% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 69°, low 50°, 16% 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)
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Weather for Ward County
Forecast for the center point of Ward County.
- Today Partly Sunny 81° 63° SE 5–15 mph 2% rain
- Mon Sunny 81° 54° SW 5–20 mph 3% rain
- Tue Sunny 71° 49° N 0–10 mph 0% rain
- Wed Sunny 76° 51° SE 0–10 mph 0% rain
- Thu Sunny 73° 48° N 0–5 mph 0% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 68° 50° E 0–5 mph 15% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 69° 50° NE 5 mph 16% 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
Burn ban ON
In effect since Mar 8, 2021.
Texas A&M Forest Service map (source), as of Nov 1, 2026. County judges set bans; check with the county before burning. 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 1.78 in; same month last year 1.04 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 Ward County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Winkler Co Ap weather station (19 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 222-day growing season |
Mar 26 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 16 |
Nov 6 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 24 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 249-day growing season |
Mar 10 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 1 |
Nov 16 1 year in 10 it's before Nov 1 |
Monahans weather station (12 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 216-day growing season |
Apr 3 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 21 |
Nov 6 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 23 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 240-day growing season |
Mar 16 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 9 |
Nov 15 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 31 |
short record Based on only 15 years of records here (30 is normal), so treat it as rougher.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Winkler Co Ap, Monahans), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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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.