Drought in Jim Hogg, Texas

Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions arrived in east-central and parts of southern Jim Hogg County on the 17th, continuing through the end of the month, while Extreme (D3) conditions prevailed elsewhere. The introduction of D4, for the first time in five years for the Brush Country/Rio Grande Plains, was due to the combination of prolonged rain-free conditions, along with heat and low to very low humidity on many days.

Lack of rainfall, top five-ten heat, and a flash drought situation with extremely low top-soil moisture levels allowed Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) Drought conditions to worsen as February approached March. Exceptional (D4) Drought developed on the 17th across the Brush Country - just the fourth small area in the nation at the time (others were in the Texas Big Bend, central Colorado, and northeast Arkansas). By month's end, the Texas Agrilife Crop and Weather report described soil moisture conditions as extremely poor, with range and pasture forages in poor condition and in some cases, cattle ranchers were liquidating herds.

Loss/impact reports will be provided for the end of March StormData, when region-wide seasonal drought conditions peaked.