August was a drier than normal month for most of the Texas Panhandle. Scattered areas around the Panhandle measured over 3 inches of rain during the month, but most locations received less than 2 inches. A band of Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought remained from Carson County northwestward to eastern Dallam County. Deaf Smith County to western Hartley County had improved to Moderate (D1) Drought. Otherwise, the remainder of the Panhandles were rated at Severe (D2) Drought conditions. Amarillo recorded 1.76 inches of precipitation for the month (1.15 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.88 inches of precipitation (1.97 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.71 inches of precipitation (2.46 inches below normal).
Soil moisture was rated mostly short to adequate during the month. Crops were beginning to suffer in drier areas, but other crops actually caught up on heat units during the warm and dry month.  Rangeland and pasture continued to improve in some areas, but cattle herd sizes remained limited due to prolonged drought. Upper soil zones were mostly in the 10 to 30 percent full range, with a few locations much better or much worse. Deeper soil moisture was still below normal in much of the Texas Panhandle, but values were estimated to be greater than 150 percent of normal where rainfall was most frequent over the last year. The Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated a rating of Severe Drought conditions for the Texas Panhandle. Countywide burn bans were supported in several counties.
Stream flows across the Texas Panhandle ranged from near normal to much below normal during August, leading to some areas of moderate hydrological drought. The reservoirs of Lake Meredith and Palo Duro were below 5 percent and 3 percent capacity respectively, and Greenbelt Lake was below 13 percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through August while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions were continued.
Economic losses due to the drought through August were predominately the result of supplemental watering in the driest areas and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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