Texas, 2020Drought in Texas, October 6 to 31, 2020
October 6 to 31, 2020 · NWS AMA · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Areas across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles saw drought conditions worsening going into the month of October as September was very dry. These conditions continued to degrade across the combined Panhandles going into late October with no new rainfall during the first three weeks of the month.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
Areas across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles saw drought conditions worsening going into the month of October as September was very dry. These conditions continued to degrade across the combined Panhandles going into late October with no new rainfall during the first three weeks of the month. Soil conditions were very poor to poor. Some farmers were waiting for some rain to plant winter wheat while others planted hoping for the moisture to come eventually. The Panhandles needed some soil moisture badly in order for winter crops to emerge and grow. The saving grace for these crops were a late month early winter event that provided moisture in the form of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. This late month event did help some areas see a one category improvement in the US Drought Monitor by the end of the month. Ranchers were still being impacted by very poor to poor pasture and rangeland conditions.
Drought, Wheeler
- When
- October 6, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Wheeler forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 35.401, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Almost the whole county started out the month in moderate drought (D1). A very dry start to the month gradually brought the southeast corner of the county into severe drought (D2) with the eastern, northern, and northwest corner degrading into D2 conditions as well by the 20th. An early winter storm during the last few days of the month provided much needed moisture in the form of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. This brought 99 percent of the county back into D1 status.
- 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.
- Heat in Arizona, October 6, 20201 death · 1 event
- Drought in South Dakota, October 6 to 31, 2020$1.7 million · 5 events
- Drought in Minnesota, October 6 to 13, 2020$940,000 · 1 event
- Drought in Nebraska, October 6 to 31, 2020$275,000 · 2 events
- Drought in Iowa, October 6 to 31, 2020$47,000 · 1 event
- Drought in Nebraska, October 6 to 31, 20208 events
- Drought in Iowa, October 6 to 31, 20205 events
- Drought in Arizona, October 6 to 31, 20204 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, October 6 to 7, 20204 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, October 6, 20202 events
- Wildfire in Arizona, October 6 to 26, 20202 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Gulf of Mexico, October 6, 20201 event
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: 925503.