February saw little changes in long term drought conditions with only one major winter storm as the only precipitation event and wildly varying temperatures. Hall County, which has remained in moderate (D1) drought conditions since July 2013 was degraded to severe (D2) drought. Bailey County remained in D1 conditions and Garza county dropped to D1 due to the winter storm. Elsewhere, conditions ranged from D2 to exceptional (D4) drought conditions.
The month of February saw wild temperature swings as well as a major winter storm. This winter storm was the only precipitation across the region during the entire month. Up to one foot of snow in a 24-hour period was observed across the southern Rolling Plains and southeastern South Plains on February 2nd. The lack of measurable precipitation throughout the rest of the month prevented the region from realizing any major improvements to drought conditions. Although temperatures actively varied throughout the month between very warm periods and arctic cold fronts, the average monthly  temperatures were below seasonal averages. Temperatures at Lubbock and Childress were -2.0 and -5.6 degrees, respectively. Both the Lubbock and Childress stations recorded one daily record maximum and a record minimum, further indicative of the variable temperatures. Keetch-Byram Drought Index Values remain nearly unchanged. The area saw values between 400 and 500 with some spots reaching between 500 and 600 over the Rolling Plains.
Despite fuels being primed for wildfire activity by the end of the month, only one wildfire was reported. Cool and moist conditions for the first part of the month kept energy release component (ERC) values low. However, ERC values increased by the end of the month with increasing temperatures and very dry conditions. The region has not reached peak wildfire season, so a lack of wildfires is not unusual for February. Furthermore, soil moisture amounts were highly variable due to the areas that received snow versus those that did not.
Economic losses due to drought through February since the drought began were estimated near $3.0 billion.

Drought in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HALE, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HALL, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in KENT, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in KING, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LAMB, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LYNN, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PARMER, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in TERRY, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GARZA, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 04-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor