With rain shutting off mid June for much of the southern Texas Panhandle, this region was seeing major drought impacts by October, despite some record rainfall May through early June. Pumpkin yields were down almost 20-40% due to the dry and warm summer months continuing well into fall. Several grass fires have started around the area as well with a few of these fires becoming large and taking a good part of the day to put out.  The main area suffering from drought remained across the I-40 corridor with areas just to the north and south of the interstate suffering the most from the lack of summer moisture, especially around Potter, Randall, Caron, and Armstrong Counties.

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

Collingsworth County started the month of October with the eastern half in Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) drought conditions. By the end of the month D2 had spread from the southeast corner north into the northeast corner. Collingsworth County had only received 50-75% of normal precipitation for the month. This was the third month in a row where precipitation received was below the monthly normal.

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

The vast majority of Oldham County was in Moderate Drought (D1) through the month of September. An area of Severe Drought (D2) developed in the southwest corner of the county at the beginning of the of October and kept the D2 status all the way through the month. The entire county received 1 to 1.5 below normal precipitation for the month of October.

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

The entire county of Deaf Smith County was in Moderate Drought (D1) through the month of September. Going into the beginning of October the western fourth to third of the county slipped into Severe Drought (D3) and stayed in D3 through the end of the month. The county ended the month with 1 to 1.5 below normal for monthly precipitation during the month of October.

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

Potter County continued to see dry conditions with an area of Severe Drought (D2) in the central to southwestern portions of the county, and Moderate Drought (D1) elsewhere sticking around for the entire month. The county saw a dry October with 1 to 1.5 below normal in precipitation for the month. The county ended October 2.48 below normal year to date. This was due to a long dry streak starting around the end of June.

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

Randall County started and ended the month with Moderate Drought (D1) across the majority of the county with the northeast corner in Severe Drought (D2). The county received 1 to 1.5 below normal precipitation for the month of October.

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

Armstrong County started the month of October with the northwest corner of the county in Severe Drought (D2) with the rest of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) or Abnormally Dry (D0). By mid month the area of D2 increased with the rest of the northern third of the county degrading into D2 as well. The county  remained abnormally dry through the month of October with only receiving 5-50% of the normal October precipitation.

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

Carson County started the month of October with the southwest corner in Severe Drought (D2) with the rest of the county in either Moderate Drought (D1) or Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions. Halfway through the month the rest of the southern third or so of the county fell into D2. Carson County ended the month with 5-50% of normal October rainfall.