The month of December provided a few opportunities for improvement in drought conditions across the Texas Panhandle, but fell short of showing significant improvement. Exceptional (D4) drought affects the majority of the north Texas Panhandle including Carson County. Extreme (D3) drought affects most of the southern Texas Panhandle minus the southeastern corner of the Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought affects parts of the southeastern corner of the Texas Panhandle.
Multiple snow events and one severe event provided the Texas Panhandle with some much needed moisture. Amarillo recorded 0.54 inches of precipitation for December (0.17 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.31 inches (0.23 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.50 inches of precipitation (0.27 inches below normal). Overall this month ranked as the 31th warmest and 51st wettest December on record for the Texas High Plains region.  As December came to an end so did the warmest 1 year, 2 year, and 3 year period on record for the Texas High Plains.
Limited dormant fuels remain in prime condition for the spread of fires across the Panhandle. But given the recent wetting rains a very marginal improvement was noted in the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the north-central Texas Panhandle while the rest of the area stayed relatively steady state. The southern and north-central Texas Panhandle falls within the 400 to 600 range, while the northwestern and northeastern Texas Panhandle falls within the 600 to 800 range. These prime conditions for the spread of wildfires have led to countywide burn bans for all of the Texas Panhandle except for Hansford County (Texas only).

The recent rains did little to help the growth of dryland winter wheat as crops had already failed or failed to emerge in some counties. Irrigated fields showed average growth but have required significant supplemental watering.  Rangeland and pastures across the Texas panhandle have remained in very poor condition and cattle have continued to require supplemental feed as observed by the Texas Crop and Weather Report.  The Palmer Drought Severity Index showed slight improvement for the Texas High Plains as the rating was increased to severe drought from extreme drought.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the Panhandles have remained well below normal levels. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 12 percent capacity with Lake Meredith below 1 percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through December while voluntary to mandatory water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through December were estimated near $15 million (D3)/$25 million (D4) a county, and were predominately the result for poor growth of winter wheat, heavy supplemental watering, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor