Drought in Collingsworth, Texas

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.

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.