Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 2005

Name: Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 2005
Start: 2005-12-01T00:00
End: 2005-12-31T23:59
Location: Texas

December 1 to 31, 2005 · NWS FWD · 45 events in 45 counties and zones

45 drought, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 45 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: $120 million
Events: 45

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 10:36 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 10:36 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1036 PM CST WED NOV 30 2005

.UPDATE...
WINDS BEHIND FRONT ARE MUCH STRONGER AND AM UPDATING TO INCLUDE WIND
ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE NORTHWEST
HALF OF THE CWA.       42

&&

.DISCUSSION...
320 PM...
WINDS ARE MEETING RED FLAG CRITERIA...BUT SHOULD DIE DOWN AROUND
SUNSET. RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 5 PM. LOW
TEMPS SHOULD BE WARMER TONIGHT THAN THE PAST TWO NIGHTS AS
SOUTHERLY SURFACE WINDS ARE ALLOWING FOR WARM AIR ADVECTION. IN
ADDITION...A COLD FRONT IS SCHEDULED TO REACH THE CWA OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT. HOWEVER...THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE MOISTURE AVAILABLE FOR
PRECIPITATION...AND POPS WERE REMOVED FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN ZONES.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN BRIEFLY BEFORE ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHES
THIS WEEKEND. MAIN SHORTWAVE ENERGY WILL STAY TO OUR NORTH. LEFT
SLIGHT CHANCE POPS IN THE SOUTHEAST SUNDAY EVEN THOUGH RAIN
CHANCES LOOK SLIM. THE LATEST RUN OF THE GFS/ECMWF AND UKMET
MODELS SHOW STRONG CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL
PLAINS IN THE MONDAY/TUESDAY TIME FRAME...WHICH COULD BRING SOME
CHILLIER WEATHER TO NORTH TEXAS. GFS IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WITH
THIS FEATURE AND TEMP GUIDANCE WAS MODIFIED SLIGHTLY PER THE
ECMWF/UKMET SOLUTIONS. OTHERWISE...GFS MOS GUIDANCE WAS GENERALLY
FOLLOWED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  39  56  37  64 /   0   0   0   0
WACO, TX              42  58  38  64 /   0   0   0   0
PARIS, TX             34  55  32  60 /   0  10  10  10
DENTON, TX            36  56  34  64 /   0   0   0   0
MCKINNEY, TX          37  56  35  63 /   0   0   0  10
DALLAS, TX            40  56  37  63 /   0   0   0   0
TERRELL, TX           40  56  36  62 /   0  10  10  10
CORSICANA, TX         43  57  36  61 /   0  10  10  10
TEMPLE, TX            41  58  38  64 /   0  10   0   0

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM THURSDAY FOR TXZ091-TXZ092-TXZ093-
TXZ094-TXZ100-TXZ101-TXZ102-TXZ103-TXZ104-TXZ105-TXZ115-TXZ116-
TXZ117-TXZ118-TXZ119-TXZ120-TXZ129-TXZ130-TXZ131-TXZ132-TXZ133-
TXZ134-TXZ141-TXZ142-TXZ143-TXZ144-TXZ145-TXZ156-TXZ157.

&&

84/42

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 30, 10:54 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1054 PM CST WED NOV 30 2005

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-011200-
ANDERSON-BELL-BOSQUE-COLLIN-COMANCHE-COOKE-CORYELL-DALLAS-DELTA-
DENTON-EASTLAND-ELLIS-ERATH-FALLS-FANNIN-FREESTONE-GRAYSON-HAMILTON-
HENDERSON-HILL-HOOD-HOPKINS-HUNT-JACK-JOHNSON-KAUFMAN-LAMAR-LAMPASAS-
LEON-LIMESTONE-MCLENNAN-MILAM-MILLS-MONTAGUE-NAVARRO-PALO PINTO-
PARKER-RAINS-ROBERTSON-ROCKWALL-SOMERVELL-STEPHENS-TARRANT-VAN ZANDT-
WISE-YOUNG-
1054 PM CST WED NOV 30 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...
GUSTY NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTH TEXAS
OVERNIGHT BEHIND A COLD FRONT. WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM LAMPASAS...HILLSBORO...
KAUFMAN...TO BONHAM THROUGH MID MORNING. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL
BEGIN BEFORE MIDNIGHT IN NORTHWEST COUNTIES SPREADING SOUTHEAST AS
THE FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTH TEXAS.  BY MID MORNING THE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA AS THE SYSTEM
WEAKENS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

84

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

45 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Hunt

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hunt forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Delta

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Delta forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.386, -95.672 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hopkins

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hopkins forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Stephens

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Stephens forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.736, -98.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Palo Pinto

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Parker

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Tarrant

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tarrant forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dallas

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rockwall

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Rockwall forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kaufman

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kaufman forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Van Zandt

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Van Zandt forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.564, -95.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Eastland

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Eastland forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.327, -98.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Comanche

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Comanche forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Erath

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Erath forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.236, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Somervell

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Somervell forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.222, -97.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hood

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hood forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.430, -97.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Johnson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Ellis

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mills

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Mills forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.495, -98.595 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hamilton

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bosque

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bosque forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.900, -97.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hill

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hill forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Navarro

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Navarro forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Henderson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Henderson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 32.212, -95.854 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lampasas

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lampasas forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.196, -98.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Coryell

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Coryell forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.391, -97.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McLennan

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McLennan forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.552, -97.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Limestone

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Limestone forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.546, -96.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Freestone

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Freestone forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.705, -96.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Anderson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Anderson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Montague

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Montague forecast zone
Crop damage: $120 million
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.676, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Devastating drought conditions continued through December. The area of extreme drought (D3) as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor expanded to include roughly the northeast quarter of the state of Texas. For the first time since the drought began in May, an area of exceptional drought (D4) was introduced into the Drought Monitor. This is the most severe classification of drought and included a large area of north Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Dallas/Fort Worth ended the year at 15.76 inches below normal, while Waco was 10.09 inches below normal, making this the worst drought in north Texas since the 1950s. Collin, Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Lamar, and Rains Counties were declared natural disaster areas due to extreme drought conditions. Requests for disaster drought declarations were also pending for numerous other north Texas counties.Wildfires were a significant threat across north Texas in December. A combination of warm dry conditions, strong winds, dormant vegetation, and continuing drought created favorable conditions for the fires, which authorities believe were started primarily by people ignoring fire bans, burning trash, shooting fireworks, and throwing out cigarettes. The Texas Interagency Coordination Center reported that federal, state, and local fire crews fought 13 fires over 879 acres in Texas on December 18 alone. Through December 22, the state recorded a total of 676 fires involving 30,441 acres. Governor Rick Perry asked for federal disaster declarations after several dozen fires burned on December 27-28. According to the state emergency management agency, fires on Dec. 27-28 destroyed more than 100 buildings across Texas, including 78 homes. Because of widespread drought conditions, outdoor burning bans were in effect in 104 of the state's 254 counties, and 86 counties banned aerial fireworks for the 11-day fireworks season that ran through New Year's Day.According to the Texas Cooperative Extension, the monetary damages for the 2005 drought have been estimated at $60 million for north central Texas. The federal government estimated that the national net farm income for 2005 was down nearly $11 billion from 2004, with losses in Texas accounting for a significant portion of the decline. Hay and pasture losses were estimated at 70% by the Farm Service Agency. Due to the hay shortage, prices drastically increased, and feeding costs reportedly went up at least 50%. Ranchers were forced to feed their livestock supplemental hay and protein for an extra three to five months. Farmers also sold lighter calves for lower prices because they did not have enough grazing for the winter. The remaining lighter calves will also bring a lower price next year. In addition, ranchers struggled with dwindling water supplies as stock tanks throughout Texas ran low. Many lakes in north Texas were 10 to 15 feet below normal pool elevation.The drought also caused numerous other problems, including cracked foundations and an increase in pest problems, as animals looked indoors for food.

Drought, Cooke

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cooke forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.639, -97.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Grayson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Fannin

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Fannin forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lamar

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lamar forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Young

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Young forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.177, -98.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jack

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jack forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.234, -98.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wise

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wise forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Denton

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Denton forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Collin

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Collin forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bell

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Falls

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Falls forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Milam

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Milam forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Robertson

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Robertson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.027, -96.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Leon

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 31.297, -95.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, December 2005

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5483474, 5483475, 5483476, 5483477, 5483478, 5483479, 5483480, 5483481, 5483482, 5483483, 5483484, 5483485, 5483486, 5483487, 5483488, 5483489, 5483854, 5483855, 5483856, 5483857, 5483858, 5483859, 5483860, 5483861, 5483862, 5483863, 5483864, 5483865, 5483866, 5483867, 5488045, 5488046, 5488047, 5488048, 5488049, 5488050, 5488051, 5488052, 5488053, 5488054, and more.