Drought in Zapata, Texas

Extreme Drought snuck across the southeast corner of Zapata County on December 23, courtesy of zero to minimal rainfall that extended from northwest Starr County. Severe (D2) conditions remained elsewhere, except for some improvement to Moderate (D1) between Zapata and San Ygnacio, where a pocket of slightly heavier rain fell on the 14th/15th.

The lack of rainfall combined with a couple of drying fronts in mid-December prolonged the well below average rainfall, along with general heat, through late December across most locations west of IH-69C/US-281. Extreme (D3) Drought expanded into much of Jim Hogg, northern Starr, and a sliver of eastern Zapata County during this time.

It was likely that pastures and grazing areas continued to dry out, with a gradual decrease in hay production.