Drought — Wheeler, Texas

2024-11-01 to 2024-11-05 · Wheeler, Texas

Event narrative

November 2nd brought in quite the prolonged rain event to the combined OK/TX Panhandles, especially the southeastern half where 2 to 3 fell. This was 2 to 3 times the normal monthly rainfall for the area and allowed parts of Donley, Wheeler, and Collingsworth counties that were in Extreme Drought (D3) and Severe Drought (D2) to improve a category by the end of the first week of November. Two more events occurred within the first half of November, allowing all areas to be removed from all drought fully and completely. Donley, Wheeler, and Collingsworth counties received a total of 8 to 10 of rain by the middle of the month. This amount of rain in November is not common at all and well received for the removal of drought.

Wider weather episode

With drought conditions worsening and expanding over the course of October, November showed up with historical drought busting rains. November falls within the 'dry' season for the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, so drought busting is not the norm in November. Normal precipitation for November only ranges from 0.50 to 0.75 for the entire 30 day period. A historical eight to ten inches of rain fell across parts of the eastern and southeastern Texas Panhandle. Three official NWS Amarillo climate sites all broke their record November rainfall.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1223223. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.