Drought in Texas, July 1 to 31, 2020

Armstrong County saw a little bit of rain in the first week of July allowing for a temporary reduction from severe drought (D2) to moderate drought (D1) in the southwest around the Palo Duro Canyon area. This did not last long and soon returned mid month and stayed until the end. Short to very short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were reported.

Carson County started the month of July with severe drought (D2) to extreme drought (D3) conditions in the north to northwest, almost half, of the county. Dryland cotton was not growing in the Texas Panhandle where D2 and D3 conditions were existing. In Carson County, 90 percent of the dryland cotton did not sprout. From about the third week of July some beneficial monsoonal rains dropped 1.79 inches in Panhandle which is about average for the month. This helped erode some of the D2 and D3 conditions going into August with the exception of the far northeast corner of the county. Wells were struggling to keep up with irrigation demand. Pasture and rangeland conditions were reported as very poor to fair. Reports were made of very short to short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels. During the month of July at least one big wildfire was reported due to the dry conditions. No acreage information was available, but 9 different Fire Departments responded to contain the fire and avoid structure damage.

Extreme drought (D3) conditions dominated the south to southeast portions of the county through the first half of the month with most of the rest of the county in severe drought (D2). The most beneficial rainfall from monsoonal moisture fell during the 3rd week of the month. 1.20 inches of the 1.82 inches that fell in for Borger, occurred on the 16th, 19th, and 20th of the month. A small portion or D3 to D2 still existed in the far southeast corner of the county going into August. In July, a couple of wildfires were started by lightning due to the dryness of vegetation. About 9000 to 10,000 acres burned from two different fires started by lightning.

Severe drought (D2) to extreme drought (D3) existed in the southwest half of the county going into the first week of July. Some beneficial monsoonal rainfall fell in the northern half of the county eroding the the D2 conditions in the portions of the northwest while D2 and D3 conditions began to appear in all of the southern areas along the county line into Gray County. Wells were struggling to keep up with irrigation demand. Pasture and rangeland conditions were reported as very poor to fair. Reports were made of very short to short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels.

Hemphill County were not so lucky in receiving monsoonal rainfall during the month of July as some nearby counties did. Just enough rain fell to roughly maintain severe drought (D2) in the southern portion of the county while only seeing a slight improvement in the north to the moderate drought (D1) conditions.

Gray County started out the month with severe drought (D2) in the northern half to two thirds of the county. July was very dry for Gray County and extreme drought spread across the northern portions of the county. A small portion of the southern part of the county managed to stay with abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought (D1) as just enough rainfall fell to keep conditions worsening.

Wheeler County started the month with severe drought (D2) conditions in the northern half of the county. July continued to be below normal in rainfall introducing severe drought to the entire county with some extreme drought (D3) conditions developing across the central portion of the county through the first 3 weeks of July. During the fourth week some rain fell, but it was just enough to return most of the county to severe drought with a small portion of extreme drought in the northwest corner of the county. Wells were struggling to keep up with irrigation demand. Pasture and rangeland conditions were reported as very poor to fair. Reports were made of very short to short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels.

Extreme drought (D3) existed in the far southwest of the county but quickly expanded to a majority of the southwestern portion of the county through July. Almost all of the county was in at least severe drought (D2) up until the last week of July when some beneficial rainfall helped reduce the severity of the far northern portion of the County (Amarillo northward). Range land grasses were non-existent with ranchers starting to consider selling off cattle in order to save money on feed. Hay prices were $10 to $20 higher per ton than else where in the state. Farmers were starting to consider abandoning dryland crops such as cotton and sorghum due the lack of water and seed not being able to germinate. Short to very short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were reported.

Deaf Smith County was in at least severe drought (D2) to extreme drought (D3) throughout the county initially. A small portion of the county in the north managed to tap into some monsoonal rainfall during the last week allowing for a temporary improvement to moderate drought (D1) going into the first week of August. Range land grasses were non-existent with ranchers considering selling off cattle in order to save money on feed. Hay prices are $10 to $20 higher per ton than else where in the state. Farmers were considering abandoning dryland crops such as cotton due the lack of water and seed not being able to germinate. Short to very short topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were reported.