While many places improved in drought conditions leading up to September, a several counties across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle continued to experience severe drought (D2) conditions while a small area in the southwest Texas Panhandle remained in extreme drought (D3) status. Only one day of rain occurred in September, however it was enough to keep some areas from degrading with regard to drought status. The most common impacts were limited range land grasses for ranchers and lost crops to farmers. Also, some farmers were not able to start planting winter wheat at the end of the month due to the lack of soil moisture.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-20 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The western to southwest one third of the county was in severe drought (D2) through the entire month. There was a small portion of the southwest corner of the county that was in extreme drought (D3) going into the first of the month. This area of D3 quickly improved to D2 with beneficial rains that fell on the first of the month.  No other precipitation fell the rest of the month with D3 conditions creeping back into the southwest corner by the end of the month.  The county still remained in a 6 -12 rain deficit year to date by the end of the month.  Ranchers are still having to sell cattle or buy feed with range land grasses limited to non-existent.

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-20 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Collingsworth County started out in with moderate drought (D1) in the west and northern part of the county, while almost half of the county in the east and southeast saw severe drought (D2) conditions. Thunderstorms on September 1st improved some of this area of severe drought but still left a good portion of the southeast corner in D2 status. The county remained in a 6 to 12 inch deficit year to date by the end of the month leaving some ranchers and farmers dealing with agricultural impacts such as shortage of range land grasses for cattle and dry soil conditions for crops.

Drought in RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-20 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Randall County was in extreme drought (D3) across the southern two thirds of the county going into September. The northern third was in severe drought conditions (D2). Conditions continued to worsen with less than a tenth of inch of rain on September 1st and no rain occurred for the rest of the month. By the end of September, a small sliver of the county in the far southwest degraded into exceptional drought (D4).  Conditions were so bad in September that farmers could not begin to plant winter wheat and were waiting for some soil moisture to return before planting could begin. Soil moisture was rated very poor to poor through the month of September. Some wells around canyon were reportedly going dry. Lake Tanglewood was reported to be at it's lowest level since the 2011-2012 drought and some boat lifts and piers were no longer usable. Ranchers are still having to sell cattle or buy feed with range land grasses non-existent. The county remained in a 6-12 rain deficit year to date by the end of the month.

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-20 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Deaf Smith County was in extreme drought (D3) across the southern half of the county going into September. The northern half was in severe drought conditions (D2). Conditions continued to worsen with less than a tenth of inch of rain on September 1st and nothing the rest of the month. By the end of the month about a third of the county in the south degraded into exceptional drought (D4).  Conditions were so bad that farmers could not begin to plant winter wheat until soil moisture returned. Soil moisture was rated very poor to poor through the month of September. Ranchers are still having to sell cattle or buy feed with range land grasses almost non-existent. The county remained in a 6-12 rainfall deficit year to date by the end of the month.

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-20 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Gray County started the month of September with a majority of the county in severe drought (D2). The exception to this was the far west and far southern part of the county that was only in moderate drought (D1). Gray County received a quarter to three quarters of an inch of rain on September 1st. This was only enough moisture to keep the county from degrading through the month as there was no other rainfall for the month. Condition were so bad that farmers could not begin to plant winter wheat until soil moisture returned. Soil moisture was rated poor to fair through the month of September. Ranchers are still having to sell cattle or buy feed with range land grasses limited. The county remained in a 6-12 year to date rainfall deficit by the end of the month.