Drought in Stonewall, Texas

Extreme drought (D3) conditions expanded during the month of January due to continued drier than normal conditions. Most of the expansion of D3 was observed in the Rolling Plains which now includes Hall, King, Dickens, Crosby, and Stonewall Counties. Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) drought conditions expanded elsewhere across the remainder of the region.

These drought conditions were strongly tied to a mature moderate strength La Nia over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. Several drier than average months have led to these conditions. The latest three month precipitation amounts continued to range from 5% to 25% of normal. The only beneficial rainfall fell around New Year's Day but was too little to cause an improvement in long term drought conditions. After record breaking temperatures in December, January saw several but brief cold spells which brought monthly temperatures slightly below seasonal normals. There are few agricultural impacts this time of year with most of the area cotton already harvested. However, winter wheat emergence has been very poor to this date. Furthermore, livestock was being fed supplemental feed due to poor native grasslands.