Below average precipitation, above average temperatures, persistent southerly winds, and increasing sun angle contributed to intensifying drought conditions in Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley through the middle of April. The accelerated pace of drying decreased soil moisture levels to the abnormally or excessively dry category through this period.
The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, noted drought conditions deteriorating to extreme (D3) over portions of Jim Hogg, Brooks, and Kenedy Counties with the remainder of Deep South Texas experiencing severe drought (D2) conditions.  The drought conditions continue to mainly affect agricultural interests, including crops, pastures and grasslands.
Any drought related crop damage likely held off until May.

Drought in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Virtually no rain fell in Hidalgo County through the first half of April. The lack of rain, combined with persistent wind and above average temperatures maintained notable drought conditions.  The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that (D2) drought conditions continued over the all of Hidalgo County from the end of March through April 13th.

Drought in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

No rain falling in Brooks County through the first half of April resulted in persistent, yet deteriorating, drought conditions. The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) over the northern half of Brooks County and that (D2) drought conditions occurred over the southern half of the county.

Drought in KENEDY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

In Kenedy County, virtually no rain fell during the entire month of April, with the sole exception of a spot of rain near the coast on the 3rd, and again on the 17th. The dry weather, combined with increasing sun angle and persistent winds, brought extreme drought (D3) into the northern half of the county through April 13th, which spread across the entire county thereafter and continued through the end of the month.

Precipitation continued below normal and temperatures persisted above normal across Deep South Texas during the first half of April. The extremely dry conditions continued through the middle of April. Deep South Texas experienced above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall during the last 6 months. Soil moisture continued abnormally to excessively dry resulting in a continued deterioration in the drought conditions over the region. The United States drought
Monitor reported that drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) over the northern half of Kenedy County and that (D2) drought conditions occurred over the southern half of Kenedy County.

Drought in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Lack of any measurable rainfall, combined with warm, dry, and breezy conditions, further intensified the drought in Jim Hogg County. The United States drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that conditions have intensified to extreme (D3) over the northeastern tip of Jim Hogg County and that (D2) drought conditions occurred across the remainder of Jim Hogg County from the end of March through April 13th.

Drought in STARR, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought conditions settled in at severe levels (D2) for Starr County to begin April. These conditions would continue through the entire month, as a mid-month thunderstorm and locally heavy rainfall event would combine with the typically drier climate of the middle Rio Grande Valley of Texas, as well as the Rio Grande Plains, to maintain D2 conditions through the entire month.

Drought in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

No rain in the Willacy County portion of the Lower Rio Grande Valley through the first half of April, combined with persistent winds and above average temperatures, allowed drought conditions to persist and deteriorate.  The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that severe (D2) drought conditions occurred over the all of the county through April 13th.

Drought in ZAPATA, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought conditions settled in at severe levels (D2) for Zapata County to begin April. These conditions would continue through the entire month, as a mid-month thunderstorm and locally heavy rainfall event would combine with the typically drier climate of the Rio Grande Plains to maintain D2 conditions through the entire month.

Drought in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

No rain in coastal Willacy County through the first half of April, combined with persistent winds and above average temperatures, allowed drought conditions to persist and deteriorate.  The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that severe (D2) drought conditions occurred over all of the county through April 13th.

Drought in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Virtually no rainfall in the Cameron County portion of the Lower Rio Grande Valley through the first half of April, combined with persistent winds and above average temperatures, allowed drought conditions to persist and deteriorate.  The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that severe (D2) drought conditions occurred over all of the county through April 13th.

Drought in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 13-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Virtually no rainfall in coastal Cameron County through the first half of April, combined with persistent winds and above average temperatures, allowed drought conditions to persist and deteriorate.  The United States Drought Monitor, Texas sector, reported that severe (D2) drought conditions occurred over all of the county through April 13th.