The month of October saw few precipitation events and the precipitation coverage was much more isolated than September. This led to near steady state of drought conditions across the Texas Panhandle. Portions of the northwest Texas Panhandle remain in Extreme (D3) Drought rating while the western half of the Texas Panhandle remains at the Severe (D2) Drought rating. The remainder of the Texas Panhandle has dropped below Severe (D2) Drought rating. Amarillo recorded 0.17 inch of precipitation for the month (1.49 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.12 inch of precipitation (1.35 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.26 inch of precipitation (1.46 inches below normal).
October brought to an end the growing and wet season across the Texas Panhandle. The Texas A&M Agrilife Program received reports of decent summer crop yields from across the Panhandle from both irrigated and some dryland fields. However, a drier October and more isolated precipitation events has led to upper soil zones degrading to 10 to 40 percent of normal. Deeper soil zones continue to range from 50 to 150 percent of normal. The Palmer Drought Severity Index continues to rate the Texas Panhandle at Extreme Drought due to the impact from the long range drought from the past three years. Countywide burn bans continue to be supported in Moore, Roberts, Hemphill, and Armstrong Counties.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the majority of the Panhandle have remained at near normal flow, but some streams across the southern Texas Panhandle have dropped below normal. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 15 percent capacity with Lake Meredith at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through October while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through October were estimated near $2 million (D2)/$5 million (D3)/$10 million (D4) a county, and were predominately the result of delayed growth of corn and cotton, marginal supplemental watering, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle in pastures and rangeland.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought as shown by the US Drought Monitor.