The month of April saw an overall improvement in an ongoing severe (D2) long-term drought which commenced over much of the west Texas Rolling Plains in January 2009.
Despite a wet summer and early fall of 2008, precipitation was scarce over the west Texas South Plains region from late October 2008 through the first half of April 2009. Severe (D2) drought developed over the Rolling Plains during late January and persisted through April.
Severe (D2) drought was ongoing over Childress, Cottle, Dickens, Kent, King, and Stonewall Counties at the beginning of April. An increase in the coverage and intensity of rainfall was noted with increased thunderstorm activity over much of west Texas by mid April, however, and widespread heavy rains occurred during a severe weather outbreak on the 16th. The increased precipitation had a major impact in ending drought conditions over most of the Rolling Plains, and by the end of April, severe (D2) drought had receded to include only Kent, King, and Stonewall Counties where long term precipitation totals during the November-December-January-February-March-April time frame remain at only 30% to 40% of climatic averages. The U.S. Drought Monitor, however, indicated an expanding area of intensifying extreme (D3) drought over western north Texas at the end of the month, just east of the Rolling Plains region.
Area grasslands were very dry during early April, and the ambient fire danger was extreme. A series of high wind events contributed to a few episodes of widespread wildfire activity across the Southern Plains during the first week of April. At least four significant wildfires developed over the local area on the 2nd and 4th. These fires destroyed one home and damaged oil field equipment. Increased rainfall and warming overnight temperatures, however, contributed to green-up and a decrease in ambient fire danger by mid April.
Following the failure of winter wheat crops in previous months, agricultural impacts were relatively minimal in April. Conditions precluded the planting of some cool season crops including winter wheat. Local cotton experts remain optimistic that soil moisture profiles remain favorable following the September-early October rains, but suggest that normal springtime rainfalls will be critical to the success of the upcoming season's cotton crops.
State agricultural officials estimate that cattle losses related to the drought will exceed $1 billion. Only a fraction of those losses occurred in the South Plains region with most of the land usage locally being for cotton production.
The total economic impact across the South Plains region in April was estimated at $3 million, with approximately $18 million dollars of economic loss occurring locally since the onset of severe (D2) drought conditions in January 2009.

Drought in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: State Official

Drought in KING, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: State Official

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-APR-09 00:00:00 to 30-APR-09 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: State Official