Drought in Inland San Patricio County, Texas

Continued D2 drought.

Across South Texas and the Coastal Bend, persistent dry conditions through late January led to worsening drought and critically low soil moisture, limiting agricultural progress and stressing rangeland. Periods of unseasonably warm weather were followed by hard freezes and a winter storm, though precipitation was generally limited, with only modest rainfall of up to around an inch in parts of the Coastal Bend providing minor short-term improvement to soil moisture. Producers largely completed field preparation but delayed spring planting due to insufficient moisture for germination. Winter pastures and forage growth struggled under the dry conditions, resulting in poor to fair range conditions and increased reliance on hay and supplemental feed for livestock. While citrus and cool-season vegetable harvests continued, drought stress remained a concern for crop development and pasture recovery, and additional rainfall will be needed to improve soil moisture and support the upcoming planting season.