Burnet & Llano County Drought Monitor
U.S. Drought Monitor conditions and plain-language drought category explanations for Highland Lakes ranchers and homeowners.
PUBLIC DATA SNAPSHOT · CHECKED NOVEMBER 11, 2026Local sponsor placement available
What the drought categories mean
| Category | Plain-language meaning | What to watch locally |
|---|---|---|
| D0 | Abnormally dry | Pasture stress and drying ponds may begin |
| D1 | Moderate drought | Reduced forage growth and increased water demand |
| D2 | Severe drought | More serious pasture, stock-water and crop impacts |
| D3 | Extreme drought | Major agricultural and water-supply stress |
| D4 | Exceptional drought | Widespread, exceptional long-term impacts |
The U.S. Drought Monitor combines precipitation, soil moisture, streamflow, vegetation and expert input to map drought intensity. It is released each Thursday using conditions valid through Tuesday morning, so the publication date and the valid date are different. For ranchers, D0 can be an early warning; D1–D2 may signal increasing pressure on forage and stock water; D3–D4 indicate increasingly severe impacts. A county can contain more than one category, so the map should be checked at the property level where possible. Drought Monitor categories are not a real-time measurement of a particular pond, well or pasture.
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