Drought — Zapata, Texas

2025-11-11 to 2025-11-30 · Zapata, Texas

Event narrative

Due to prolonged dryness and near-record late summer through mid-autumn heat, Severe (D2) Drought conditions developed across much of Zapata County that initially included the the city of Zapata, but would expand to cover the entire county, including San Ygnacio on the 18th and continue through month's end.

Wider weather episode

Severe (D2) Drought conditions spread from a corner of Brooks and Kenedy across Jim Hogg, most of Brooks and Starr, and nearly all of Zapata and northwest Kenedy on November 11, 2025 due to a prolonged period of dryness and near-record heat across the region. Severe Drought would increase a bit in coverage across Zapata and Kenedy on the 18th, and Extreme (D3) would be introduced for the northern tier of areas then as well.

Agricultural impacts (mainly cattle herd culling) were unknown in these areas as of the end of November.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300475. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.