Drought — Lubbock, Texas

2013-01-01 to 2013-01-31 · Lubbock, Texas

Wider weather episode

Drought conditions during the month of January slightly improved across much of the South Plains, Rolling Plains, and extreme southern Texas panhandle. By the end of the month, Motley County was completely in moderate (D1) drought conditions. The rest of the area remained in severe (D2) or worse conditions but was improved from December.

January saw both warm and dry conditions as well as a few days of beneficial rainfall. The first half of the month saw continued cool conditions that dominated the last half of December. However, a general pattern change occurred and cold, arctic air stayed well north of Texas during the second half of the month. By the end of the month, Lubbock and Childress were only slightly above seasonal averages on temperatures with values of +0.7 and +0.3, respectively. The cooler air in the beginning of the month also helped limit evaporation. A single rainfall event which occurred on the 9th and 10th brought values which ranged from 0.5 inches in the southwestern South Plains with up to two inches over the Rolling Plains. It was mainly for this reason that drought levels were improved. By the end of the month, Keetch-Byram Drought Index values had improved. Values between 300 and 500 were observed over the extreme southeastern Texas panhandle and Rolling Plains. Much of the South Plains saw KBDI levels between 500 to 600. The highest values were reported across the extreme southwestern Texas panhandle where values between 600 and 700 were observed.

January saw no critical fire weather days which is highly unusual for the month as peak wildfire season nears. This was due to cooler than normal temperatures and a lack of high winds. Soil moisture at shallow levels improved from beneficial rainfall but remained dry at deeper levels. This rainfall also benefited the winter wheat crop and soil moisture for grasses on dormant rangelands. A significant casualty of the drought was the closing of a large cattle processing plant in Plainview (Hale County). The main reason for the closure was a diminished cattle supply because of drought.

Economic losses due to drought through January since the drought began were estimated near $2.6 billion.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 422066. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.