Drought conditions largely worsened through the month of May with most rainfall eluding the region. Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought levels expanded across the entire area. Only portions of Hall and Yoakum counties remained in severe (D2) drought.
May is typically the time of year when the region experiences rainfall however not much rain has fallen this springtime. Deficits were on the order of one to three inches area wide. Lubbock received only 1.15 inches while areas across the Rolling Plains fared better with more frequent thunderstorm events. Several late season cold fronts brought some of the coldest temperatures on record for the month of May. The first half of the month was generally much colder than normal because of these cold fronts with the second half of the month warmer than normal. By the end of the month, temperatures were only 0.3 and 0.7 degrees above normal at Lubbock and Childress, respectively. Keetch-Byram Drought Index values expectantly worsened through the month. By the end of May, values between 500 and 700 were observed across the entire region except for the extreme southwestern Texas panhandle. In this location, values between 200 and 400 were discernible.
Rain was desperately needed for area crops otherwise another year of poor crops can be expected. Winter wheat was nearly a total loss for the region with most crops being baled out for hay. Pastures were also in increasingly poor to very poor condition. Spring planting had begun despite little soil moisture available. Fire weather conditions were very low this year despite a dry season. This was mainly due to low fuel load after three years of drought and minimal growth.
Economic losses due to drought through May since the drought began were estimated near $2.7 billion.

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

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

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

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 01-MAY-13 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 50.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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