Many areas across the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles saw improvements in drought going into August. A couple of rain events help keep those areas from degradation during the month with some even improving by the end of the month. Northwest Cimarron County in Oklahoma was in extreme drought (D3) for the longest time until the end of the month after the August 29th event. An area in extreme drought in east central Texas Panhandle managed to leave the extreme drought category as well. However, the southwest Texas Panhandle kept missing out on rain with all storms passing to the north and northwest. Areas in severe drought and extreme drought are looking at a 6 to 12 inches deficit for rainfall year today. Many ranchers are either selling their cattle or buying feed as there are no rangeland grasses. Many dryland crops have failed thus far, even with the July and August rains that came just too late.

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southern third of Hemphill County began the month in severe (D2) drought with less dire conditions across the north. In August,  slightly below average rainfall was received and enought to lead to removal of D2 drought conditions.  However, some moderate drought (D1) did persist across the south.

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The far southeast corner of Hutchinson County began the month in severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought. In August, 2.5 to 5 inches of rain fell which was near to slightly above normal for the month and this led to an end of the severe to extreme drought across the county, however some moderate drought (D1) did persist as annual deficits of around 8 inches or more remained.

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southern third of Roberts County began the month in severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought with less dire conditions across the north. In August, near average rainfall of 2 to 4 inches led to an end of the severe to extreme drought across the county, however some moderate drought (D1) did persist.

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

An area of extreme drought (D3) existed in the northwest portion of the county with surrounding severe drought (D2) conditions surrounding at the beginning of the month. August did not bring very much rain, causing areas of severe drought to spread across the majority of the county by the 3rd week. Finally on the evening of August 29th a large line of storms moved through the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles dropping any where between 1 and 2 inches for many areas. This one event dropped Wheeler County out of extreme and severe drought conditions as it resupplied some much needed soil moisture.

Drought in RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Randall County started the month out in widespread severe drought (D2) with a small area of extreme drought (D3) at the beginning of the month. Almost all of the rain events in August missed a good portion of the southern half of the county increasing the yearly deficit for precipitation. Canyon, TX and other areas of the county are around 6 to 12 inches below average year to date.  Top soil moisture is very poor with almost no grasses to be seen.  Hay prices in the TX PH were $10 to $20 higher per ton compared to the rest of the state. A lot of dry land crops were abandoned and non-irrigated crops did not grow. There was even a wildfire that burned just over 400 acres southeast of Buffalo Lake on August 11.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

A portion of the southwest corner of the county was in severe drought going into August. About mid-August a small area of extreme drought conditions started showing as in the southwest. One rain event at the end of August briefly improved conditions shrinking  areas of severe and extrem drought just slightly. Soil moisture has been classified and very poor to fare. Agricultural impacts have not improved through the month of August. Rain deficits remain between 6 to 12 inches year to date.  Hay prices in the TX PH were $10 to $20 higher per ton compared to the rest of the state. Range land grasses are sparse making it pricy to feed cattle. A lot of dry land crops were abandoned and non-irrigated crops did not grow.

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Carson County started the month of August 1/8th corner of the county in Severe Drought (D2) with a small sliver of Extreme Drought (D3). The rest of the county was abnormally dry to moderate drought (D1). Carson County managed to receive some beneficial rainfall, around 2 to 3 inches, across much of the county allowing all D2 and D3 areas to be removed by August 29th.  Hay prices in the TX PH were $10 to $20 higher per ton compared to the rest of the state. A lot of dry land crops were abandoned and non-irrigated crops did not grow. Monsoonal rains in the latter part of July and early August helped soil moisture but it was too late for almost all dry land crops.

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Collingsworth County started the month of August with a very small sliver of Severe Drought (D2) in the far southwest corner. As the weeks went on conditions worsened with D2 expanding across the entire county. Even the small sliver in the southwest corner deteriated into Extreme Drought (D3). The northwest third to half of the county did manage to see some beneficial rainfall returning this portion of the county back to Moderate Drought (D1).

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Deaf Smith was receiving some good rain in July improving drought conditions slightly prior to August. August was a different story with extreme drought conditions expanding from the south to the north. During the month, Hereford received a measly 0.18 inches of rain which increased the deficit by about 2.5 inches.  Almost all of the August rain events missed Deaf Smith and Randall Counties to the north and northwest. Conditions are so bad farmers are not going to be able to plant winter wheat.  About 16,200 acres of non-irrigated cotton crop as perished due to the drought. Corn has had a 10% yield reduction from last year due to the extreme dry conditions during pollination.

Drought in DONLEY, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Donley County had only a small area of severe drought in the far south, going into August. By mid-August the whole south to southwest half of the county was seeing severe drought condtions.  Wides spread rain on August 29th brought some much needed moisture for the top soil. This allowed all areas in the county to improve to moderate drought (D1) conditions just before the month ended.

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-AUG-20 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern half of Gray County started August out in Extreme Drought (D3), with a small area of Severe Drought (D2) separating the southern half which was in Moderate Drought (D1) in the beginning of the month.  Much of the county was still 1 to 2 inches below average for the month, even with some areas receiving up to 2 inches. Part of this 2 inches that fell, fell at the end of the month, allowing for the Extreme Drought to be reduced to Severe Drought. But the vast majority of the county still ended in the month in Extreme Drought.