The temporary relief brought by a late February blizzard continued to diminish due to the limited precipitation during the month of April. Over the course of the month, drought conditions degraded a full category for much of the Texas Panhandle. Exceptional (D4) drought encompasses all of Dallam County and is beginning to affect the extreme northern part of Hartley County. Extreme (D3) drought affects the northern and western Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought affects the central and southeastern Texas Panhandle.
April saw both below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Amarillo recorded 0.05 inches of precipitation for April (1.35 inches below normal), and saw 10 freezes during the month which has only happened four other times over the 122 years of records for the city. Dalhart recorded a trace of precipitation (1.08 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.05 inches of precipitation (1.49 inches below normal).
Limited dormant fuels remain in prime condition for the spread of fires across the Panhandle as a result of the sparse precipitation for the month. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index remained steady state for the Texas Panhandle. The northern and western potions of the Texas Panhandle fall within the 600 to 800 range while the majority of the area stayed within the 400 to 600 range. The 200 to 400 range continues to only encompass Roberts County. Countywide burn bans remain in effect for all of the Texas Panhandle except for Hansford, Roberts, Oldham, Gray, Wheeler, and Deaf Smith Counties.
The sparse precipitation for the month and several freezes severely impacted the winter wheat crops.  However, some corn crops have begun to develop despite the dry and freezing conditions. Rangeland and pastures across the Texas Panhandle have remained in poor to very poor condition as observed by the Texas Crop and Weather Report. The Palmer Drought Severity Index for the month of April showed degradation in conditions with the rating going from Moderate to Severe Drought for the Texas High Plains.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the Panhandles have remained at below normal levels. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 12.5 percent capacity with Lake Meredith at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through April while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through April were estimated near $5 million (D2)/$10 million (D3)/$20 million (D4) a county, and were predominately the result for poor growth of winter wheat, heavy supplemental watering, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 12.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-APR-13 00:00:00 to 30-APR-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor