Drought conditions worsened during the month of April due to the lack of significant precipitation. Areas which were below Severe (D2) conditions which included Briscoe, Cottle, Hall, Motley, and Swisher Counties returned to D2 or worse drought conditions. Extreme (D3) and Exceptional (D4) conditions further expanded over the rest of the South Plains, Rolling Plains, and extreme southern Texas panhandle.
Very few systems affected the area throughout the month which was unusually cold.
Temperatures at Lubbock and Childress were -1.6 and -4.4 degrees colder than seasonal averages, respectively. The region experienced a late snowfall on April 10 but very little snow accumulated during this event. Thunderstorms developed on just a few days in April. A tornado ocurred on one of these days along with localized heavy rainfall. A second severe weather day brought a landspout tornado with little rainfall. With a continued lack of precipitation, the drought is anticipated to worsen. Keetch-Byram Drought Index Values worsened from the beginning of the month due to the dearth of precipitation. Values between 400 and 600 covered much of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Values ranged from 200 to 400 over the extreme southern Texas panhandle.
Wildfire activity through the month of April was low despite the fact that April is the peak for wildfire action. This was due in part to below average temperatures. Although fuels were dry to very dry, fuel loads were low due to a lack of vegetation - a direct result of continuing drought conditions. Winter wheat crops sustained losses due to a hard freeze that occurred on the 24th. Additionally, there was damage to irrigation equipment from this freeze. Losses to the wheat crop were estimated to be near 70 percent, and most of the damaged wheat will likely be used as cattle feed rather than grain harvest.
Economic losses due to drought through April since the drought began were estimated near $2.6 billion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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