The month of February was another dry month for the Texas Panhandle, with the most notable precipitation event being a band of early February snow that fell mostly in the southern Texas Panhandle. Short term precipitation deficits worsened especially in the eastern Panhandle, increasing the coverage of Severe drought in that area. Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions continued in the western Texas Panhandle. A small area of Extreme (D4) Drought conditions remained in the central Texas Panhandle, with some improvement seen in this area after the February snowfall. Parts of the northeast Texas Panhandle remained below Severe (D2) Drought rating. Amarillo recorded 0.36 inches of precipitation for the month (0.20 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.08 inches of precipitation (0.32 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.31 inches of precipitation (0.31 inches below normal).
Winter wheat struggled under the cold and dry weather pattern, with drought-stressed wheat facing temperatures that were 2 to 4 degrees cooler than normal. Soil moisture was rated mostly short to very short by month's end, and center pivots were being used to water some wheat. Stocker cattle placement was limited due to the poorly performing wheat planted for grazing, according to the Texas A&M Agrilife Program. The poor health of range and pasture land lead to concerns for blowing dust if strong winds occurred. Upper soil zones remained drier than normal in the Texas Panhandle but were driest across the eastern parts. Deeper soil zones ranged from less than 30 to around 50 percent of normal in the western Texas Panhandle, but values of 70 to 90 percent of normal were scattered across the eastern Texas Panhandle. The Palmer Drought Severity Index improved slightly to a rating of Moderate 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 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 was at zero percent capacity. Water watches for several public water systems persisted through February while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions have been enacted.
Economic losses due to the drought through February 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 GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-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-FEB-14 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-14 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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