Drought in Zapata, Texas

Extreme (D3) Drought eastern Zapata County through February 16th, with Severe (D2) conditions elsewhere except the western fifth of the county. Persistent warm to hot and very dry conditions, even for February, allowed D3 conditions to expand farther west to all but the western fifth, with D2 conditions replacing the D1 (Moderate) level drought in the western fifth beginning on February 17th.

The combination of top-ten hottest temperatures and virtually no rainfall in February allowed Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought to persist across locations from Hidalgo and Kenedy County west to Zapata County through February. Coverage of D2 and D3 conditions would steadily expand as the month wore on. Cattle ranchers began to report culling of herds, dried out rangelands, and the need to haul water on more occasions. Farmers in the Valley were beginning to see crop stress on some winter crops. Damage/loss assessments will be provided for March Storm Data as available, when drought peaked at month's end.