The year started off on a fairly snowy note for the Texas Panhandle, with a particularly notable heavy snow event near the end of January that brought over 1 foot of snow to the Interstate 40 corridor.  Most areas measured greater than 1 inch of liquid equivalent precipitation throughout the month.  Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions remained along a line from east of Dalhart to near Wellington, and in the extreme northeastern Panhandle.  Conditions across the rest of the Texas Panhandle remained a mix of Moderate (D1) Drought to Severe (D2) Drought.  Amarillo recorded 1.61 inches of precipitation for the month (0.89 inches above normal), Dalhart recorded 1.72 inches of precipitation (1.20 inches above normal), and Borger recorded 1.23 inches of precipitation (0.64 inches above normal).
Soil moisture was rated from short to adequate during January.  The moisture received during the month helped to sustain the season's winter wheat crop.  Rangeland and pasture continued to improve in some areas, but 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 (moderate agriculturally dry), with locations in the eastern Panhandle generally drier.  Deeper soil moisture was still below 70 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.
Stream flows across the Texas Panhandle ranged from near normal in the southwest to much below normal in the north during January.  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 January while voluntary to mandatory mild water restrictions were continued.
Economic losses due to the drought through January were predominantly the result of early losses in some late-planted winter wheat and supplemental feed for cattle on drought-thinned rangeland and pastures.

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

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