official data
Drought could lock in fast across the middle of the country — heat risk next weekend
CPC Week-2 Hazards Outlook issued 300 PM EDT September 05 2026 (Forecaster Danny Barandiaran) posts Rapid Onset Drought risk for portions of the Central and Southern Plains and the Middle and Lower Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys; slight risk of extreme heat across much of the Southern and Central Plains and the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley on Sun Sep 13; slight risk of heavy precipitation for portions of the Desert Southwest and Great Basin Sun-Thu Sep 13-17. Valid Sun Sep 13 through Sat Sep 19 2026. Short-range watches/warnings = local NWS offices / see live NWS HUD.
Key facts
- Issued
- 300 PM EDT Sep 5 2026 · valid Sep 13-19
- ROD
- Central/Southern Plains; Middle/Lower Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio Valleys
- Extreme heat
- Slight risk Sep 13 (Southern/Central Plains + Mid/Lower Mississippi)
- Heavy precip
- Slight risk Desert Southwest / Great Basin Sep 13-17
Note
Primary: NWS Climate Prediction Center U.S. Week-2 Hazards Outlook, made September 05, 2026.
What it is not: a heat-warning for Sep 5 itself; inventing crop-loss totals; ECDO; a single-county emergency declaration.
Why it matters
Earth rail drought/heat pin while tropics and ash dominate other climate cards.
Sources
Official data. Live values go to the HUD / source product.