Much of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles remained dry throughout the year. During December a wide range of drought conditions occurred across the combined Panhandles, from Exceptional Drought (D4) to Moderate Drought (D1). Soils remained low to very low on soil moisture. Drought conditions affected pastures, which forced ranchers to sell upwards of 35% more cattle during the year compared to previous years. More than 70% of the cotton production across the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains failed due to the drought. This was one of the worst production seasons since the 1950���s. One of the hardest hit areas was central to eastern portions of the Oklahoma Panhandle into the far north central Texas Panhandle. Some parts of this area received less than 10 inches of rainfall for the entire year.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

With very little precipitation received during the month of December, Dallam county started and ended the month in Severe Drought (D2)  in the north central and southeast corner. The majority started and ended in Extreme Drought (D3), while a portion of the county in the far west started and ended in Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions. The county ended the month around 0.5 below the monthly normal, continuing the 4 to 9 deficit year to date.

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Hutchinson County started and ended the month of December with the north to northeastern third to half in Extreme Drought (D3) conditions. The rest of the county started and ended the month in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. Not much precipitation fell during the month and Hutchinson County continued to have a 4 to 9 deficit year to date.

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Roberts County started and ended the month with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions in the northwest corner of the county. The majority of the county was in Severe Drought (D2) conditions with a small area of Moderate Drought (D1) in the far southeast corner. The county received below normal precipitation for the month. With a monthly normal below an inch for precipitation. This did not worsen the overall drought and did nothing to help it. The county remained in a 4 to 9 deficit year to date.

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Sherman County ended the month of December 0.5 to 1.0 below the monthly normal. Areas of Severe Drought (D2) in the southwest corner, Extreme Drought (D3) across central portions, and Exceptional Drought (D4) in the northeast remained in place at the end of the month. The county remained in a 6 to 10 deficit year to date.

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Hansford County started and ended the month of December with Exceptional Drought (D4) in the northwest and Extreme Drought (D3) in the southeast. The county received 0.5 to 1.0 below the monthly normal over the course of December. A 6 to 10 deficit year to date grew ever so slightly.

Drought in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The majority of Hemphill County started and ended the month of December with Moderate Drought (D1) conditions. The exception was an area along the norther that was in Severe Drought (D2) along with a small area in the southeast that was in D2 as well. Precipitation during the month was below normal. However the monthly normal is less than an inch. Drought conditions remained the same through the month of December with a continuing deficit of 2 to 6 year to date.

Drought in OLDHAM, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

With below normal precipitation for the month of December drought conditions stayed unchanged through the month of December. Central to southwestern portions stayed in Moderate Drought (D1) while areas to the north and east stayed in Severe Drought (D2). The county remained in a 2 to 7 rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in POTTER, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

With below normal precipitation for the month of December, drought conditions stayed unchanged through the end of the month. The majority of the county started and ended the month of December in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. The one exception was the far southeast corner that stayed in Moderate Drought (D1). The county remained in a yea-to-date deficit of 4 to 8.

Drought in CARSON, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The majority of the county received below normal precipitation for the month of December. Normal precipitation is less than an inch and drought conditions stayed unchanged through the month. The northern third to half of the county started and ended the month in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. While the southern portion remained in Moderate Drought (D2) conditions.

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Ochilltree County started and ended the month of December with the southeast corner in Severe Drought (D2), while the rest of the county was in Extreme Drought (D3). The county received 0.5 to 1.0 below the monthly normal for precipitation over the course of December. Drought conditions remained with a year-to-date rainfall total growing ever so slightly. The county ended the year with a 7 to 11 deficit year to date.

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Lipscomb County started and ended the month of December with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions across the north and Severe Drought (D2) conditions across the south.  The county received 0.5 to 1.0 below the monthly normal. Lipscomb also ended the month with a 7 to 11 deficit year to date.

Drought in GRAY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Gray County kept a small area in the northwest corner of the county in Severe Drought (D2) through the month of December. The rest of the county remained in Moderate Drought (D1). The county kept a year-to-date rainfall deficit of 2 to 5 .

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Deaf Smith County remained dry through the month of December hanging on to Extreme Drought (D3) condition across the south with Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) drought conditions elsewhere. The county remained in a 4 to 10 rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Randall County remained dry through the month with Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions in the western half and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions to the east. The County remained in 4 to 10 rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Hartley County started and ended the month of December with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions in the northwest corner of the county, while the rest of the county was in Severe Drought (D2). The county ended the month 0.5 to 1.0 below normal for rainfall. Year-to-date this added up to a 5 to 11 deficit.

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The majority of the county started and ended the month with Severe Drought (D2) conditions, while the northeast corner started and ended the month with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions. The county received 5% to 40% of normal precipitation for the month. A 4.5 to 9 deficit year date continued for the county.

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Collingsworth County remained dry through the month of December with the majority of the county in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions. The exception was the northwest corner of the county that remain in Moderate (D1) drought conditions. The county remained in a 6 to 12 rainfall deficit year to date.