Drought — Lubbock, Texas

2011-09-01 to 2011-09-30 · Lubbock, Texas

Wider weather episode

Exceptional (D4) drought continued to persist across the entire area through the month of September. September usually sees an uptick in the rainfall because of the weakening summer ridge pattern and occasional interaction with decaying tropical weather systems. However, the entire area continued to see little rainfall. The exceptional drought is expected to continue through the winter months with little to no relief.

The most widespread rainfall event of the year occurred from the 14th through the 16th when a swath of one to two inches of rain fell from Denver City through Brownfield, Lubbock and Crosbyton. The rainfall deficit climbed even further despite this widespread rainfall. Most of the area remains on pace for the driest year on record. Some annual rainfall totals include 3.66 at Morton (Cochran County), 3.28 at Silverton (Briscoe County), 3.96 at Friona (Parmer County), 2.74 at Lubbock (Lubbock County), 4.48 at Childress (Childress County) and 2.23 at Brownfield (Terry County). Keetch-Byram Drought Index values continued to range from 600 to 800 across the entire area.

The summer heat wave came to an end with the September rainfall. The first half of the month continued to see temperatures in the 90s on the South Plains with 100 to 105 degrees across the Rolling Plains. The rainfall dropped high temperatures to the upper 60s to upper 80s. Prior to this, both Lubbock and Childress saw a streak of 100 consecutive days of 90 degrees or higher that ended on the 4th.

Despite the rainfall, agricultural and livestock losses were unceasing. The beneficial rainfall in September came too late to aid the cotton crop. Low crop yields and low quality crops were seen through the month which were anticipated in the drought conditions. Most producers were waiting on rains to plant winter wheat although some had already been planted. Livestock sell off lasted through September due to the lack of forage and low supply of water and feed.

Economic losses due to drought through September since the drought began were estimated near $2.2 billion.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 338962. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.