Persistent drought conditions has affected the Texas Panhandle through October. Exceptional (D4) drought affected most of Dallam County.  Extreme (D3) drought affected almost all of the northern Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought affected most of the southern Texas Panhandle and parts of Hartley County.
The first week of October held hopes of slight improvement in areas effected by severe to exceptional drought, but those hopes were silenced with October ending with below normal rainfall at all climate sites. Amarillo recorded 0.01 inches of precipitation for October (1.65 inches below normal), and Dalhart recorded 0.02 inches (1.45 inches below normal). This October was the 27th coldest October for the Texas High Plains region on record.
The dry conditions and a series of freezes throughout the month have helped cure fuels across the Panhandles. This has led to an overall increase in the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the Panhandles. The majority of the Texas panhandle falls within the 400 to 600 range. These prime conditions for the spread of wildfires have led to countywide burn bans for all but a few counties in the Panhandles.
The lack of rain during the month of October limited the initial growth of dryland winter wheat, and rangeland and pastures across the Texas panhandle is in very poor condition as observed by the Texas Crop and Weather Report. The poor state of rangeland and pastures has resulted in the need for supplemental feed for cattle. The Palmer Drought Severity Index showed little to no change for the month of October with the Texas High Plains region rated Extreme Drought.
Reservoirs and streamflows across the Panhandles have remained well below normal levels. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 15 percent capacity with Lake Meredith below 1 percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through October while voluntary to mandatory water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through October were estimated near $120 million, and were predominately the result for poor growth of winter wheat and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 6.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor