The central to eastern Oklahoma Panhandle as well as the surrounding areas in the northern Texas Panhandle continued to see a significant lack of soil moisture. Ranchers and farmers continue to struggle from the lack of rainfall. Crop yields came in low, as expected, over the course of September. Herds had been kept lower than previous years in order to reduce the cost of supplemental feeding as pastures remain barren. Unlike in previous years, high winds and low relative humidity days had been almost non-existent in September which kept wildfire activity at bay. Many burn bans were implemented or retained for the driest of areas.

Drought in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southeastern corner of Ochiltree County received 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain during the month of September. The rest of the county received less than 1.5 inches with isolated areas only receiving 0.1 to 0.25 inches. Almost the entire county started the month in severe drought (D2) and ended the month in severe drought (D2) with the exception of a very small portion in the far southeast corner that started and ended in moderate drought (D1).

Drought in HARTLEY, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The far western portion of Hartley County started the month in Extreme Drought (D3) with the rest of the northwestern half in Severe Drought (D2). The southeastern half was in Moderate Drought (D1). Much of the county ended the month around 2 inches below normal for precipitation. This led to zero improvements and ending the month in the same conditions. The county remains in a 4 to 8 inch inch precipitation deficit year to date.

Drought in MOORE, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moore County started the month of September with the northern third in Severe Drought (D2) and the southern two thirds in Moderate Drought (D1). The county received 0.5 to 2 inches of rain over the course of the month. This rainfall was not enough to improve conditions, thus ending the month in the same drought categories that existed at the start of the month. Moore County remained in a 2 to 6 inch deficit year to date.

Drought in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern two thirds of Hutchinson County started the month of September in Severe Drought (D2) with the southern third in Moderate Drought (D1). The county received anywhere between 0.10 to 1.00 inch over the course of the month. Conditions were unable to improve with the areas of D2 and D1 staying. Hutchinson County ended the month with a  4 to 8 inch rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southwest half to two thirds of the county started the month of September in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. Deaf Smith County received 0 to 1 inches of rainfall over the course of the month. Relying on previous months rainfall, conditions remained unchanged through the end of the month. The county remained in a  4 to 12 inch rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Collingsworth County started the month of September with the far southeast corner of the county in Extreme Drought (D3) and the northwest corner in Moderate Drought (D1) with the majority of area in the central part of the county in Severe Drought (D2). The majority of the county received 1 to 1.5 inch of rainfall while the far southeast corner only received 0.1 to 0.25 inches of rainfall. Categories of drought remained unchanged by months end. Much of Collingsworth County remained in a 6 to 12 inch rainfall deficit year to date.

Drought in ROBERTS, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

A small portion of southeast Roberts County started the month in Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions with the the northwest third or so of the county in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. The central portion of the county was in Moderate Drought (D1). The southwest corner of the county received upwards of 1 inch of rain while the northeast half only received upwards of 0.5 inches max. With the county ending the month of September below normal, conditions stayed unchanged by the 27th. The county remained in a 4 to 8 inch deficit year to date.

Drought in DALLAM, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Overall dry conditions continued through the month of September with Dallam County only receiving 0.5 to 1 inch across the east and 0.10 to 0.50 inches across central and western portions. There was an isolated area in the far west that received 1 to 3 inches but this did not improve conditions where a year-to-date deficit of 6 to 12 inch remained. The western quarter of the county started and ended the month in extreme drought (D3) while the rest of the county started and ended the month in severe drought (D2).

Drought in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The western half of Lipscomb County started the month of September in severe drought (D2) while the east was in moderate drought (D1).  Much of the county ended the month of September 2 to 3 inches below normal. This led to conditions remaining the same except in the far northeast corner that degraded into D2 from D1.  Much of the county remained in a 4 to 8 inch deficit year to date.

Drought in RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Randall County started the month of September with the far southwest corner in Severe Drought (D2) and the rest of the county in Moderate Drought (D1). The county only received around 0.10 to 0.50 inches in the area of D1, and the area of D2 received 0.50 to 1.00 inch of rain. This rain amount left the county below normal for the month, leaving the classifications of drought the same. The county remained in a  4 to 12 inch deficit in rainfall year to date.

Drought in SHERMAN, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Sherman County only received 0.5 to 1.0 inch of precipitation through the month of September. Overall the deficit continued to build with the county seeing a 4 to 12 inch deficit year to date. The northeastern quarter or so of the county started and ended the month of September in extreme drought (D3) while the rest of the county started and ended the month in severe drought (D2).

Drought in HANSFORD, TEXAS
From 01-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northwestern half of Hansford County started the month of September in extreme drought (D3), while the rest of the county started in severe drought (D2). The majority of the county only received an inch or less of precipitation leading to an increase in the deficit. Hansford County stayed in a 4 to 12 inch deficit year to date by months end leaving the areas of D3 and D2 with no change.