Areas across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles saw drought conditioned worsening going into the month of October as September was very dry. These conditions continued to degrade across the combined Panhandles going into late October with no new rainfall during the first three weeks of the month.  Soil conditions were very poor to poor. Some farmers were waiting for some rain to plant winter wheat while others planted hoping for the moisture to come eventually. The Panhandles needed some soil moisture badly in order for winter crops to emerge and grow. The saving grace for these crops were a late month early winter event that provided moisture in the form of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. This late month event did help some areas see a one category improvement in the US Drought Monitor by the end of the month. Ranchers were still being impacted by very poor to poor pasture and rangeland conditions.

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 20-OCT-20 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Roberts County was already seeing moderate drought conditions going into October. With the exception over a small sliver of severe drought (D2) up against Gray County. With the first few weeks of October being dry it did not take long for conditions to worsen with areas of D2 spreading northward.  By October 20th conditions worsened even more just north of Pampa, TX leaving a small area in extreme drought (D3) in southwest Roberts County. These drought conditions did lead to one wildfire that burned between 11000 and 12000 acres in Roberts County. An early winter storm in  late October dropped a decent amount of moisture improving conditions from  D2 to D1, as well as improving the area of D3 to D2 by November 1st.

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 20-OCT-20 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Potter County started the month out with maybe 2 to 3 percent of the county in severe drought (D2) to around 40 percent of the southern portion of the county in D2 by October 20th. This was due to the first few weeks of October being completely dry. This area of D2 did improve over the last week as a late winter event provided a decent amount of moisture as sleet, freezing rain, and snow over the span of 3 to 4 days.

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 20-OCT-20 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Donley County managed to remain in moderate drought (D1) through the first couple to three weeks of October. By October 20th conditions worsened with no rain to be had and much of the county fell into severe drought (D2).  An early winter storm in during the last few days of the month produced much needed moisture in the form of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. By the end of the month all of the county was back to moderate drought (D1).

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 20-OCT-20 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Carson County started the month with the east to northeast half of the county in moderate drought. Lack of any moisture during the first 2 to 3 weeks of the month brought forth severe drought (D2) conditions to about two thirds of the area.  Conditions  did improve over the last week as a late winter event provided a decent amount of moisture as sleet, freezing rain, and snow over the span of 3 to 4 days.  Going into November, Carson County was only in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 20-OCT-20 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The end of September was very dry going into the first few weeks of October. This lead to severe drought (D2) conditions spreading into the southeastern portion of the county by October 20th for mainly all areas south of the Canadian River. An early winter storm with freezing rain and snow during the last week of October improved conditions for these conditions to moderate drought (D1) just before the end of the month.