Drought in Randall County, Texas

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.

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.