US Drought Continues as Hurricane Polo Remnants Offer Rain, Raise Flood Concerns

Nearly half of the United States and Puerto Rico remain in drought as of late September 2026. While the remnants of Hurricane Polo are expected to provide much-needed drought relief to parts of the South, the Weather Prediction Center forecasts moderate threats for excessive rainfall. This raises concerns for potential flooding from the Southwest into Texas, Oklahoma, and northward into Nebraska and Iowa, presenting a dual challenge of drought alleviation and flood risk.