Drought in Texas, March 1 to 31, 2022

Name: Drought in Texas, March 1 to 31, 2022
Start: 2022-03-01T00:00
End: 2022-03-31T23:59
Location: Texas

March 1 to 31, 2022 · NWS OUN · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A lack of significant precipitation led to drought persisting or even worsening across western north Texas during the month of March, with severe to extreme drought prevailing.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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: None recorded
Events: 8

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 happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

A lack of significant precipitation led to drought persisting or even worsening across western north Texas during the month of March, with severe to extreme drought prevailing.

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 Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 3:07 PM CST, 8 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 3:07 PM CST, 8 hours 53 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
307 PM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 303 PM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

Cirrus ahead of weak, southern stream trough, will continue to be
seen over the region through tomorrow morning. Some thickening of
this cirrus shield is forecast mainly across the southern half of
the forecast area, and with moderating lower level thermal
environment, this should yield less cold overnight lows tonight.
Close to average for the end of February with several locations at
or just above freezing.

With continued veering of lower level flow and thinning/decrease in
high clouds tomorrow, warming trend should continue with high
temperatures closer to and excess of 70 deg. Winds will remain
light.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday night through next Sunday)
Issued at 303 PM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

Temperatures will warm even further Wednesday and Thursday as upper
ridging builds into the area. A tightening pressure gradient will
increase south winds Thursday afternoon. With a dry airmass still in
place, this may lead to a period of elevated to near-critical
fire conditions, especially across northwest Oklahoma where
relative humidity will drop below 20%.

Continued southerly flow will lead to increased moisture on
Friday, with a shortwave moving into the plains by late in the
day. Models continue to dampen the impact of this wave locally,
with perhaps some isolated showers possible in far northern
Oklahoma as the wave passes by Friday night. Fire weather could
then be a concern once again on Saturday across western Oklahoma
as a dryline is forecast to push into central Oklahoma during the
afternoon, with dry and breezy conditions behind it.

Broad troughing remains to our west through early next week, but
models disagree on timing and amplitude of individual shortwaves
rotating through the base of the trough. This leads to uncertainty
regarding precipitation chances and amounts this weekend into
early next week. Some models even suggest enough cold air may work
into the region for a chance of wintry precipitation for parts of
the area during this period, but again confidence is very low on
this scenario. For now, stuck fairly close to NBM blended
guidance.

Ware

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1111 AM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

No restrictions are expected. Cirrus will continue to increase and
persist through the forecast cycle. For the most part, winds will
remain light southwesterly.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  36  73  39  76 /   0   0   0   0
Hobart OK         34  73  36  77 /   0   0   0   0
Wichita Falls TX  35  73  37  77 /   0   0   0   0
Gage OK           29  76  33  80 /   0   0   0   0
Ponca City OK     31  75  37  79 /   0   0   0   0
Durant OK         35  70  38  74 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...11
LONG TERM....08
AVIATION...11

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 11:44 AM CST, 12 hours 16 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
1144 AM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-011745-
Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield-
Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-Kingfisher-Logan-Payne-
Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Oklahoma-Lincoln-Grady-McClain-
Cleveland-Pottawatomie-Seminole-Hughes-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson-
Tillman-Comanche-Stephens-Garvin-Murray-Pontotoc-Coal-Cotton-
Jefferson-Carter-Johnston-Atoka-Love-Marshall-Bryan-Hardeman-
Foard-Wilbarger-Wichita-Knox-Baylor-Archer-Clay-
1144 AM CST Mon Feb 28 2022

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday...

.Fire Weather...
Elevated fire weather conditions are expected across northwest
Oklahoma on Friday. Near-Critical conditions are expected on
Saturday across a larger portion of western Oklahoma and parts of
western north Texas.

.Thunderstorms...
There is a chance for thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman.
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Archer

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Archer forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.615, -98.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Baylor

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Baylor forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.617, -99.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clay

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.786, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Foard

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Foard forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.975, -99.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hardeman

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hardeman forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.290, -99.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Knox

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.606, -99.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wichita

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wichita forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.988, -98.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wilbarger

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wilbarger forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.081, -99.241 (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 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, March 2022

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: 1013456, 1013457, 1013459, 1013460, 1013461, 1013462, 1013463, 1013464.