Drought in Columbia, Arkansas

Persistently dry conditions coupled with much above normal temperatures from Fall 2025 into Winter 2026 led to the development of severe (D2) drought conditions from the U.S. Drought Monitor across Columbia County in Southwest Arkansas by the second week of February, which persisted through the end of the month. Rainfall amounts during February only tallied to 1.00-2.00 inches, which was only half or less the normal amount of rainfall for the month. Coupled with the consistently below normal rain observed since Fall 2025, considerable hardships from area agricultural producers developed, as pastures had become dormant early, forcing farmers to provide hay and other supplemental feed much earlier than normal, as well as water as multiple ponds had dried up. An increase in wildfires were also observed, with the above normal temperatures continuing the drying of fuels. Streamflow from area creeks and bayous also fell below to much below normal as well.