Drought conditions worsened during the month of May despite a few precipitation events during the latter half of the month. Exceptional (D4) drought encompasses the northern and western portions of the Texas Panhandle with Extreme (D3) drought affecting the southeastern portion of the Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought only affects Gray County.

May brought many late freezes and several opportunities for precipitation. Amarillo recorded 2.80 inches of precipitation for May (0.51 above normal), Dalhart recorded 0.44 inches of precipitation (1.80 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 1.08 inches of precipitation (1.81 inches below normal). This May was the 32nd warmest and 5th driest May on records for the Texas High Plains Region.
The scattered precipitation during the month of May has helped improve some of the dormant fuels across the Panhandle. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index showed marginal improvement from April. The northwestern potion of the Texas Panhandle falls within the 600 to 800 range while the majority of the area stayed within the 400 to 600 range. The 200 to 400 range now encompasses Roberts County, Hutchinson County, and Gray County. Countywide burn bans remain in effect for all of the Texas Panhandle except for Hansford, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Gray, Donley, Collingsworth and Deaf Smith Counties.
The sparse precipitation for the month and several freezes severely impacted developing crops.  Irrigated crops remain in fair conditions however; it is not the peak water demand period for these crops. 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 May showed degradation in conditions to Extreme 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 percent capacity with Lake Meredith at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through May while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through May were estimated near $5 million (D2)/$10 million (D3)/$20 million (D4) a county, and were predominately the result for poor growth of new crops, heavy supplemental watering, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Exceptional drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Extreme drought as seen on the drought monitor.

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

Severe drought as seen on the drought monitor.