Drought in Starr, Texas

Extreme (D3) Drought covered all but the eastern sliver of Starr through eastern Zapata County through February 9th, with Severe (D2) Drought conditions in that sliver. D3 conditions expanded to all of Starr on the 10th, continuing through the end of the month as heat and dryness persisted.

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.