Exceptional (D4) drought continued across the entire area through the month of July. However, there was a brief reprieve into Extreme (D3) across portions of the southeastern Texas panhandle for the second half of the month due to abundant rainfall during the first half of the month. The remainder of the area received little to no beneficial rainfall during July.
The drought of 2011 clearly stands out as among the most extreme in this region in the past 100 years. Portions of Briscoe and Hall Counties experienced a heavy rain event on July 11. Otherwise, no area saw significant rainfall through the entire month. Annual rainfall totals at Lubbock and Childress were 1.13 inches and 3.64 inches, respectively. These were the lowest rainfall values ever recorded at Lubbock and Childress. Other annual rainfall totals include 2.35 at Morton (Cochran County), 2.23 inches at Silverton (Briscoe County), 1.37 inches at Friona (Parmer County) and 0.72 inches at Brownfield (Terry County). Keetch-Byram Drought Index values continued to range from 600 to 800 across the entire area. A heat wave from June continued to affect the area into the month of July. An upper high persisted over the area favoring very hot temperatures and the warmest July ever recorded for several areas. Many areas also saw temperature records broken with average temperatures between 8 and 11 degrees above normal.
Wildfire activity lessened through July due to the lack of dry high-based thunderstorms. Agricultural losses continued to mount with most crops failing. Aquifer draw-down greatly increased suggesting that irrigation may not be able to continue for a prolonged period of time. Some farmers reportedly cut their watering area in half with the hopes of yielding some harvest rather than none. Record numbers of livestock continued to be sold because of the cost of water and feed. Ironically, some cattle died because of taking in too much water once moved to new pastures.
Economic losses due to drought through July were estimated near $2 billion.

Drought in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HALE, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LAMB, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 250.00M
Crop damage: 250.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LYNN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in PARMER, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in TERRY, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-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-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency