A slight expansion in worsening drought conditions occurred during the month of December. Despite two winter storms and below average temperatures, no large scale improvement to the drought was noted. Only Bailey County and Hall County remained in drought conditions less than severe (D2).
The month of December saw unusually cool temperatures across the entire region. Arctic outbreaks occurred over much of the eastern U.S. with some of this frigid air spilling into West Texas. By the end of the month, Lubbock was 1.9 degrees below normal while Childress was 2.5 degrees below normal. This marks the second consecutive month of below normal temperatures. Precipitation was spotty through the first half of the month with a more widespread precipitation event occurring on the 20th and 21st. While the central Texas Panhandle saw several inches of snow, the extreme southern Texas Panhandle into the Rolling Plains saw freezing rain and rain. The Rolling Plains measured between one and two inches of rainfall from this single event. Several inches of snow were observed over the Rolling Plains and extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle on the 5th and 6th. Also, significant ice accumulations were experienced in the southern South Plains for the same time period. Keetch-Byram Drought Index values over the South Plains remained unchanged with observed values between 400 and 500. Over the Rolling Plains and extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle, values improved to between 400 and 500.
Wildfire activity was very low through December however fuels reached a cured state. Following a year with precipitation values between 50 and 75 percent of normal, there was an increase in tall cured grasses. These grasses were less than normal but increased from the previous two years. The areas with greatest fuel loads were the eastern South Plains into the Rolling Plains and extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle. Cotton harvesting was complete by the end of December with winter wheat crops having mixed results thus far.
Economic losses due to drought through December since the drought began were estimated near $3.0 billion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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