**Recent U.S. Drought Monitor data valid through September 22, 2026, and released September 24 show exceptional (D4) drought concentrated in the Southern Plains, with areas in northern Texas, western and southern Oklahoma, and parts of Arkansas.** Persistent heat and below-normal precipitation have driven degradation in this region, while drought improved across the West and northern Plains. The USDM, produced jointly by the National Drought Mitigation Center, NOAA, USDA, and NASA, blends precipitation deficits, soil moisture, streamflow, and vegetation indicators to classify conditions on the D0–D4 scale. The next weekly map, covering data through late September and expected early October, will determine state-level D4 presence for the target week; short-term forecasts favor continued above-normal temperatures across the southern U.S., sustaining trader focus on potential further expansion or limited relief in affected states.