The month of March was another dry month for the Texas Panhandle, with most areas receiving less than one quarter inch of precipitation during the month.  Short-term precipitation deficits worsened especially in the eastern Panhandle.  Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions expanded to cover all of the Texas Panhandle by the end of March.  The worst conditions were located in the central Panhandle from approximately Hartley County to Carson County.  Amarillo recorded 0.20 inches of precipitation for the month (1.19 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.09 inches of precipitation (1.08 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.07 inches of precipitation (1.34 inches below normal).
Soil moisture was rated mostly very short by month's end.  High winds dried out soils and caused some areas of blowing dust problems, which limited farmers preparing for the upcoming summer season.  Winter wheat under irrigation was progressing well, with growers running center pivots more frequently as days warmed.  Dryland winter wheat declined in many areas.  Rangeland remained dormant, and producers were still supplementing cattle.  Stocker cattle were placed on graze-out wheat or moved to feed yards.  Upper soil zones remained at extremely dry levels in the southeastern and western parts of the Panhandle, while slightly less dry in the central Panhandle.  Deeper soil moisture was less than 30 percent of normal in most of the Panhandle, but values of 70 to 90 percent of normal were scattered across the eastern Texas Panhandle. The Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated a a rating of Severe Drought conditions for the Texas Panhandle.  Countywide burn bans were supported in most counties.
Stream flows across the majority of the Panhandle were at below normal to much below normal levels, causing Moderate Hydrologic Drought especially in the southern Texas Panhandle.  The reservoirs of Palo Duro and Greenbelt Lake were below 5 percent and 15 percent capacity respectively, and Lake Meredith was at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through March while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through March were predominately the result of supplemental watering, winter wheat losses, reduction of cattle herd sizes, and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exceptional Drought (D4) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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

Exceptional Drought (D4) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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