The year ended with a relatively dry month for the Texas Panhandle.  Only a few light precipitation events occurred from mid to late December, and these events were not widespread.  Most areas measured less than quarter of an inch.  Extreme (D3) Drought remained along a line from east of Dalhart to near Clarendon and in the extreme northeastern Panhandle, though a few locations along this line worsened to Exceptional (D4) Drought by the end of December.  Conditions in the southwestern Texas Panhandle worsened to a mix of Moderate (D1) Drought to Severe (D2) Drought.  Otherwise, the remainder of the Panhandles maintained ratings of Moderate to Severe Drought conditions.  Amarillo recorded 0.13 inches of precipitation for the month (0.58 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.33 inches of precipitation (0.21 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.14 inches of precipitation (0.63 inches below normal).
Soil moisture was rated from very short to adequate during the month. Crops fared well during the month, with the remaining fall harvest finally getting to be harvested during the drier weather.  Earlier planted winter wheat was looking good, and many fields were being used for cattle grazing.  Rangeland and pasture continued to improve in some areas, but cattle herd sizes remained limited due to prolonged drought and high cattle prices.  Upper soil zones were mostly in the 10 to 30 percent full range (moderate agriculturally dry), with locations in the eastern Panhandle generally drier.  Deeper soil moisture was still below 70 percent of normal in much of the Texas Panhandle.  The Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated a rating of Near Normal conditions for the Texas Panhandle.  Countywide burn bans were supported in several counties.
Stream flows across the Texas Panhandle ranged from near normal in the south to much below normal in the north during December.  The reservoirs of Lake Meredith and Palo Duro were below 6 percent and 2 percent capacity respectively, and Greenbelt Lake was near 12 percent capacity.  Water watches for several public water systems persisted through December while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions were continued.
Economic losses due to the drought through December were predominantly the result of early losses in some late planted winter wheat and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 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-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 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-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 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-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 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-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 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-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-14 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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