A dry November caused the ongoing drought conditions to worsen across the Texas Panhandle. 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.
There were very few opportunities for the Texas Panhandle to see any relief in the form of precipitation and even fewer locations saw any precipitation during the month of November. The only reason the entire Texas Panhandle is not under D3 and D4 Drought is because of the convection that developed over the southeastern Texas Panhandle on November 10th.  Amarillo recorded 0.01 inches of precipitation for November (0.79 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.00 inches (0.58 inches below normal), and Borger recorded a trace of precipitation (0.84 inches below normal). This lack of rain placed this November as the 9th driest for the Texas High Plains region on record. Also this November was the 7th warmest November for the Texas High Plains region on record.
The dry conditions and more frequent freezes throughout the month of November have helped to further cure fuels across the Panhandle. This has led to a marginal increase in the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the north Texas Panhandle placing it inthe 600 to 800 range while the rest of the Panhandles stayed relatively steady state within the 400 to 600 range. These prime conditions for the spread of wildfires has led to countywide burn bans for all of the Texas Panhandle except for Hansford County.
The lack of rain during both October and November has limited the growth of dryland winter wheat. In some counties where dryland crops are planted, crops have already failed or even failed to emerge. 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 remained steady state this month with the Texas High Plains region in the Extreme Drought rating.
Reservoirs and streamflows 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 November while voluntary to mandatory water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through November were estimated between $20 and $30 million a county, and were predominately the result of poor growth of winter wheat, heavy supplemental watering, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 18.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 22.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-NOV-12 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 18.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor