The month of January provided some much needed precipitation for the southern Texas Panhandle. Exceptional (D4) drought affects the far northern Texas Panhandle including Moore County. Extreme (D3) drought affects most of the central and south central Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought affects parts of the southeastern and southwestern corners of the Texas Panhandle.
Several snow events provided the Texas Panhandle with some much needed moisture. Amarillo recorded 0.76 inches of precipitation for January (0.04 inches above normal), Dalhart recorded 0.17 inches (0.35 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.81 inches of precipitation (0.22 inches above normal). Overall this month ranked as the 54th warmest and 30th wettest January on record for the Texas High Plains region.
Limited dormant fuels remain in prime condition for the spread of fires across the Panhandle. Given the several wetting rain events for the month the Keetch-Byram Drought Index showed continued improvement for the Texas Panhandle. Dallam, Hartley, and Lipscomb are the only Texas Panhandle counties remaining within the 600 to 800 range.  The rest of the area stayed relatively steady state within the 400 to 600 range with Collingsworth County dropping into the 200 to 400 range. These prime conditions for the spread of wildfires have led to countywide burn bans for all of the Texas Panhandle except for Hansford, Sherman, and Hemphill County.
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 remained steady state for the Texas High Plains with a rating of Severe Drought.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the Panhandles have remained at below normal levels. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 13 percent capacity with Lake Meredith below 1 percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through January while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through January were estimated near $20 million (D3)/$30 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-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 22.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 25.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 15.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 7.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor