The month of December was another dry month for most of the Texas Panhandle, with most precipitation being observed late in the month in a single snowstorm that brought 6 to 10 inches of snow to the northwest Texas Panhandle. This led to a general degradation of drought conditions across the Panhandle and an expansion of drought into areas which were drought-free after summer 2013. Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions returned to portions of the northwest Texas Panhandle while Extreme (D3) Drought conditions also expanded in that area. The remainder of the western half of the Texas Panhandle remains at Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) Drought rating. The eastern half of the Texas Panhandle remains below Severe (D2) Drought rating, but most of the Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions there degraded to Moderate Drought by the end of December. Amarillo recorded 0.32 inches of precipitation for the month (0.39 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.21 inches of precipitation (0.33 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.27 inches of precipitation (0.50 inches below normal).
Winter wheat was in need of moisture, but most winter wheat was in fair to good condition during the month according to reports received by the Texas A&M Agrilife Program. Upper soil zones remained drier than normal in most of the Texas Panhandle, but moisture levels were near normal in areas having received snowfall during the month. Deeper soil zones ranged from less than 30 to around 50 percent of normal in the western Texas Panhandle, but values of greater than 150 percent of normal were reported in the northeastern Texas Panhandle. The Palmer Drought Severity Index remained at a rating of Moderate Drought conditions for the Texas Panhandle. Countywide burn bans continue to be supported in Moore, Roberts, Hemphill, Randall, and Armstrong Counties.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the majority of the Panhandle were at near or below normal levels, causing Moderate to Severe Hydrologic Drought especially in the southern Texas Panhandle. The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake are both below 15 percent capacity, and Lake Meredith is at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through December while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through December were predominately the result of supplemental watering, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme Drought (D3) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme Drought (D3) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme Drought (D3) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme Drought (D3) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-13 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe Drought (D2) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.