Drought conditions intensified over the South Plains of west Texas and the extreme southern Texas Panhandle during the month of January. An abnormally long dry period commenced over the region in late October 2005. This followed widespread copious rains that set local climate records during the winter of 2004 and 2005. The onset of exceptionally dry conditions was accompanied by unseasonably warm temperatures. The average temperature during January at Lubbock was 47.3 degrees, 9.2 degrees warmer than the thirty year average (1971 to 2000) January temperature of 38.1 degrees. The warmth accounted for a combined six daily record high temperatures at Childress and Lubbock. With the last measurable rainfall at Lubbock International Airport occurring on October 27, 2005, the thirty-one dry days of January contributed to what would become a record setting stretch of consecutive days without measurable precipitation for the city.The U.S. Drought Monitor officially indicated D2 (severe) drought conditions over an expanding area that encompassed the extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle and the northeastern portions of the South Plains by January 24th. The intense short-term drought conditions that persisted over the area since late autumn resulted in the curing of abundant rangeland vegetation that grew following the previous year's record rains. With extremely dry fuel moisture levels, record warm temperatures, and persistently breezy southwest to westerly winds that advected very dry low level air (observed dewpoints as low as -20 degrees F) into the area, the threat for wildfires was very high over all of west Texas.Most crops across the region had been harvested by the time the drought commenced, and the dry weather actually helped farmers extract cotton from the fields during the late fall. The drought, however, is expected to have long-term adverse effects as fields are prepared and planting begins during the upcoming growing season. Thus agricultural losses resulting from the drought will likely be realized at future dates according to local extension agents.

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in GARZA, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HALE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HALL, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in KING, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LAMB, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LYNN, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in PARMER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in TERRY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-06 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.