Drought in Yoakum, Texas

By the middle of September, the long term drought improved to severe (D2) drought or better across the entire region. Showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain falling mainly in late August and early September helped rebound the annual rainfall deficit over the area with a good portion of the area showing much above normal rainfall. The rainfall was still less abundant over the extreme southern Texas Panhandle the southwestern South Plains. Most areas have seen rainfall greater than 150 percent of normal with some areas exceeding 300 percent of normal. The much needed rain brought relief to ranching operations where grasses and vegetation are finally starting to grow. In contrast, many farming operations including the vast number of acres dedicated to cotton, the rain came too late. The extreme drought over the summer caused a total failure or near total failure of the crops with limited or no irrigation. Overall yields of all crops for this year's growing season are expected to be down significantly from an average year.