Data story · U.S. Drought Monitor, October 6, 2026
Dallas Went From No Drought in July to Extreme Drought: Check Your Foundation
On the July 28, 2026 U.S. Drought Monitor map, Dallas County had no drought at all. On the October 6 map, released October 8, 100% of Dallas County is in severe drought and 68% is in extreme drought. Tarrant and Collin counties made the same jump. Across Texas, the share of the state in severe drought or worse went from 10% to 52% in ten weeks.
Most of North Texas is built on clay soil that shrinks as it dries. When the soil under a slab shrinks unevenly, the house settles unevenly. That is when cracks, sticking doors and gaps at window frames show up.
| County | July 28 | October 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas (Dallas) | No drought | 100% severe, 68% extreme |
| Tarrant (Fort Worth) | No drought | 100% severe, 5% extreme |
| Collin (Plano, McKinney) | No drought | 89% severe, 15% extreme |
| Travis (Austin) | 10% severe | 79% severe |
| Texas, whole state | 10% severe or worse | 52% severe or worse |
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor county and state statistics (percent of area), maps of July 28 and October 6, 2026, read October 9, 2026.
The state number eased a little in the last week: it was 68% on the September 29 map. Rain that ends a drought does not undo the damage at once. Clay that swells back fast after a long dry spell can move a slab again.
What to look for
- New diagonal cracks above doors and windows, inside or outside.
- Doors that stick or no longer latch, and windows that bind.
- Gaps between the wall and the ceiling, or between brick and window frames.
- Stair-step cracks in brick.
Take dated photos now. If the cracks grow over a few weeks, get a structural engineer’s report before you talk to a repair company. The engineer has nothing to sell you.
What foundation repair costs
HomeAdvisor puts the national average at $5,174, with most homeowners spending $2,225 to $8,133. Piers cost $1,000 to $4,000 each. Sealing one crack costs $250 to $800. An engineer’s report costs $340 to $780.
Price your foundation repair
Enter your home and the problem you see. You get a low-to-high price, with a source for every rate.
Open the cost calculator 134 contractors in Dallas 36 in Fort Worth 48 in AustinSources
- U.S. Drought Monitor (National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, NOAA), county and state statistics, percent of area: Dallas (48113), Tarrant (48439), Collin (48085), Travis (48453) and Texas, maps of July 28, September 29 and October 6, 2026.
- Cost figures: HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide price tables. Full list on the calculator’s sources section.
Cite this page
Foundation Repair Near Me, “Dallas Went From No Drought in July to Extreme Drought: Check Your Foundation,” October 9, 2026, https://foundationrepair.contractorsestimates.com/dallas-drought-foundation-cracks-2026/
The Drought Monitor map updates every Thursday. Check droughtmonitor.unl.edu for this week’s map.