The extended dry period which began over west Texas during the 2010 autumn persisted through April, and resulted in a rapid intesification of drought over the South Plains.  During the first week of April, Severe (D2) expanded northward over all of the South Plains and extreme southern Texas Panhandle while Extreme (D3) drought expanded to include the extreme southeastern Panhandle, the southwestern South Plains, and all of the Low Rolling Plains.
Rainfall since November 2010 ranged from under a tenth of an inch at Plains (Yoakum County) to close to two inches at Friona (Parmer County), Plainview (Hale County), Tulia (Swisher County) and Guthrie (King County)...while most other locations across the South Plains experienced around one inch of rain during the seven-month period.  These totals were two to six inches below climatological normal values.  In addition, temperatures during the month of April averaged 5 to 8 degrees above normal.  Keetch-Byram Drought Index values ranged between 600 and 700 across the region by the end of April.
Through April, impacts of the deepening drought were most evident in an unprecedented level of wildfire activity across the state.  Mutliple long-lived and massive wildfires occurred across the state during the month, including several that persisted for upwards of two weeks in duration and totaling nearly 2 million acres statewide.  During April, agricultural impacts were additionally worsening.  Local experts estimated that winter wheat crops sustained a 60 percent loss.  South Plains cotton farmers delayed planting through the month of April due to the drought's impact.  It was evident that if rain did not increase during the late spring and early summer, cotton crops (the area's main economy) would suffer tremendous adverse impacts.
Economic losses due to drought through April were estimated near $5 million, and were predominately a result of failed winter wheat.

Drought in TERRY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HALL, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LAMB, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in KING, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in PARMER, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HALE, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in GARZA, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LYNN, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 05-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 01-APR-11 00:00:00 to 30-APR-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency