After a snowy start to the year, March was a dry month for most of the Texas Panhandle.  Most precipitation was light and fell during only two events during the month.  Most areas measured less than one half inch of liquid equivalent precipitation. Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions expanded to affect all of the northeastern half of the Texas Panhandle by the end of March.  Conditions across the rest of the Panhandle remained a mix of Moderate (D1) Drought to Severe (D2) Drought.  Amarillo recorded 0.21 inches of precipitation for the month (1.18 inches below normal), Dalhart recorded 0.08 inches of precipitation (1.09 inches below normal), and Borger recorded 0.27 inches of precipitation (1.14 inches below normal).
Soil moisture was rated from short to adequate during March.  As temperatures began to warm and spring winds returned, the winter wheat crop began to suffer drought stress with the month's low precipitation.  Rangeland and pasture saw little change in March, and cattle herd sizes remained limited due to prolonged drought and high cattle prices.  Upper soil zones were mostly in the 10 to 30 percent full range (slight to moderate agriculturally dry), with locations in the eastern Panhandle generally drier.  Deeper soil moisture was below 50 percent of normal in much of the Texas Panhandle.  The Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated a rating of Near Normal conditions for the Texas Panhandle.  Countywide burn bans were supported in several counties.
Streamflows across the Texas Panhandle ranged from below normal to much below normal during March, indicative of moderate to severe hydrologic drought.  The reservoirs of Lake Meredith and Palo Duro were below 6 percent and 2 percent capacity respectively, and Greenbelt Lake was near 12 percent capacity.  Water watches for several public water systems persisted through March while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions were continued.
Economic losses due to the drought through March were predominantly the result of early losses in winter wheat and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-MAR-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 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-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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