All exceptional (D4) drought was absent from the area at the beginning of January. However, a very dry month lead to the reintroduction of exceptional conditions on the South Plains by the end of the month. Only two light precipitation events occurred during  January and these two events did not bring much precipitation. Hall county remained in Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions.
Very warm and dry conditions persisted through the start of 2012. Temperatures averaged around four degrees above normal with only 5% of normal precipitation received. Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport recorded only 0.01 of precipitation while Childress Municipal Airport recorded 0.03. A few isolated areas received up to 0.3 liquid equivalent during the month. Significant weather systems did move across West Texas and brought record precipitation to areas south of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Keetch-Byram Drought Index values had slightly increased across all areas. Values ranged from 500-600 across the western South Plains to 300-400 across the southern Rolling Plains.
Agricultural and livestock losses remained steady through the first month of the year. Soil moisture as a whole was depleted in January after repeated rounds of warm, dry and windy conditions. A severe wind and blowing dust event on January 22nd heavily damaged or destroyed many winter wheat crops. Most cotton farmers were beginning to prepare fields and reported very poor deep soil moisture below eight inches. Livestock was generally reported to be in fair condition.
Economic losses due to drought through January since the drought began were estimated near $2.4 billion.

Drought in PARMER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in TERRY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in GARZA, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HALE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in KING, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LAMB, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LYNN, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-12 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency