Drought in Wheeler, Texas

Severe Drought (D2) continued into April as the area still lacked any significant precipitation. This lack of rain continued through much of the month, but there were a few showers and storms that moved through the county. In total, the county measured around 0.4 inches across the county. Wheeler County ended the month about 1.8-2.0 inches below normal. The 120 day departure from normal was around 4-4.5 inches below normal. The entire county remained in Severe Drought through the middle to latter portions of the month when the northern portions of the county degraded into Extreme Drought(D3).

The Texas Panhandle experienced a stark and worsening drought throughout April. While a few isolated showers and storms moved through the area, the vast majority of the region suffered from a severe lack of continuous, meaningful precipitation. The month was defined by the complete erasure of lower-level drought categories and an aggressive expansion of Extreme Drought (D3) as long-term moisture deficits deepened.

Precipitation was incredibly sparse. Most counties recorded less than half an inch for the entire month, with several seeing less than one tenth of an inch. A few lucky, localized areas in the northern portions of the Texas Panhandle managed to catch 1 to 1.5 inches of rain from passing storms but this was the exception rather than the norm. The majority of the Panhandle finished April anywhere from 0.5 to over 2 inches below normal. The isolated spots in that saw heavier showers actually finished the month 0.2 to 0.4 inches above normal, though this did little to dent the overarching dry pattern.

However, it 120 day precipitation totals truly highlight true severity of the situation. Deficits broadly ranged from 2.5 to 4.5 inches below normal across the region. This remains the reason behind the growing drought across the region. This drought combined with dry fuels and windy conditions to help fuel wildfires across the area during the month.