The month of January was another dry month for most of the Texas Panhandle, with only 2 or 3 light snowfalls being reported across the far northern parts of the Panhandle.  As short term precipitation deficits worsened, drought conditions returned to the eastern Texas Panhandle. Severe (D2) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions continued in the western Texas Panhandle.  The eastern half of the Texas Panhandle remained below Severe (D2) Drought rating. Amarillo recorded 0.03 inches of precipitation for the month (0.69 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.01 inches of precipitation (0.51 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.07 inches of precipitation (0.52 inches below normal).
With precipitation from the previous growing season not sufficient to replenish a full soil moisture profile, winter wheat struggled under the dry weather pattern.  Winter wheat was in mostly fair to good condition during the month according to reports received by the Texas A&M Agrilife Program, but dryland planted wheat had very poor growth. Upper soil zones remained drier than normal in the Texas Panhandle but were driest across the southern and eastern parts. Deeper soil zones ranged from less than 30 to around 50 percent of normal in the western Texas Panhandle, but values of 110 to 150 percent of normal were scattered across the Texas Panhandle. The Palmer Drought Severity Index worsened to a rating of Severe Drought conditions for the Texas Panhandle. Countywide burn bans were supported in Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Carson, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, and Donley Counties.
Reservoirs and stream flows across the majority of the Panhandle were at near normal to much below normal levels, causing Moderate to Severe 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 is at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through January while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through January 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-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-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-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-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-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-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-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

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

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

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

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