Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2023

Name: Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2023
Start: 2023-04-01T00:00
End: 2023-04-30T23:59
Location: Texas

April 1 to 30, 2023 · NWS AMA · 20 events in 19 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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: 20

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 AMA wrote it up.

Long term drought conditions contributed to concerns for wildfires and dust storms during the April winds and low relative humidity during the month. A total of 8,471 acres were burned across portions of Potter and Carson County in the Texas Panhandle early on in April. The fire that was in Potter County caused several residential areas north of Amarillo to be evacuated by the Potter County Office of Emergency Management due to erratic fire behavior along the Canadian River Valley terrain.

Per farmers and ranchers, soil moisture was reported to be short to very short. Dryland winter wheat was not harvestable during the month. Cow/calf producers were feeding more on rangelands, but in several counties the cow/calf pairs were going to market due to lack of forage availability.

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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 11:12 PM CST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 11:12 PM CST, 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1212 AM CDT Sat Apr 1 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM ...
(This evening through Saturday night)
Issued at 242 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

Currently there is a mid to upper level low sitting over SD/NE/WY.
The FA is under the base of the associated trough which has
suppressed the H85 temperatures today. This will lead to slightly
cooler afternoon temperatures today. The jet associated with
trough is what is leading to windy and gusty winds today.

For today we continue to watch for high winds, low RH, fire
weather conditions, and blowing dust across much of the combined
OK and TX Panhandles. Winds are expected to be worse early today
through at least mid afternoon. As of this writing, the airport
here at Amarillo has been gusting 50 to 57 mph already this
morning. Winds are expected to be quite gusty through about 3 PM.
Then a slow downward trend in the winds will take place during the
late afternoon into evening hours as the stacked jet exits the
area. However, winds will stay on the breezy side through about 9
PM or so before becoming calm. During the late afternoon and
evening, fire weather conditions will still be a concern as RH
values will continue to be low and not recovering to 20 percent
until after midnight.

After midnight tonight winds will become northerly for a short
while around 10 mph. Then, heading into the hours around sunrise
winds may become calm and variable as the pressure gradient
continues to relax. The calm winds going into the early morning
hours combined with clear skies will lead to temperatures
dropping below freezing across much of the north and northwestern
FA. The south to southeastern TX Panhandle may hold on to some
winds around 10 mph a bit longer keeping morning lows above 32
degrees F. Flow aloft becomes more zonal tomorrow afternoon with
surface winds returning to the south, and H85 temperatures start
to increase to 15 to 17 degrees C. This will help temperatures
rise into the upper 60s and mid 70s tomorrow. Tds remain low and
RH values are still expected to fall into the 10-15 percent range
across the western half of the combined Panhandles. A surface
trough is progged to develop over eastern NM/CO into western
portions of the FA as surface winds pick up to the 15 to 20 mph
range. Thankfully, the winds aloft will remain relatively light
limiting the wind gust potential tomorrow. These winds will still
contribute to elevated to critical fire weather conditions at a
as they combine with the low RH. Slightly higher winds could be
present in the western OK Panhandle leading to possible critical
fire weather conditions there.

The surface trough and surface low will keep winds breezy
overnight into Sunday morning. With the H85 temps staying around
15-16 degrees C overnight, winds will help mix the warmer temps
keeping the temps in the 40s for Sunday morning.

36

&&

.LONG TERM ...
(Sunday through next Thursday)
Issued at 242 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

Increasing temperatures and prolonged dryness will continue the
fire weather threat through the extended period. Tuesday is
looking to be the worst day as the next upper level system brings
stronger winds aloft to the combined Panhandles after period of
prolonged dryness. This same system will bring in a cold front
Tuesday night with much cooler temperatures progged for Wed and
Thu afternoon. Unfortunately there is no sign of any precipitation
coming with this system.

Very early on Sunday morning, right around sunrise, an H5
shortwave is progged to pass just south of the TX Panhandle. This
shortwave is looking to not have any moisture to work with until
it gets east of the area leaving the Panhandles high and dry. The
one exception is maybe a slight chance of rain for far
southeastern Collingsworth County. Going into the afternoon on
Sunday, a LLTR will set up over portions of eastern CO/NM into
West Texas and the combined Panhandles. H85 temperatures are
progged to increase to around 22 degrees C with this ridge. A
leeside low over SE CO will once again bring breezy 15 to 25 mph
west winds to the area Sunday afternoon. The higher end of this is
looking to be in the southwest TX Panhandle. The downsloping
winds with the LLTR will contribute to afternoon highs reaching
the 80s and also RH values falling into the single digits. This
will continue the concern for fuels drying out more as elevated to
critical fire weather conditions remain through the extended
period.

Sunday night, a weak backdoor cold front brings some slightly
higher Tds to the northeastern portions of the FA with light
northerly winds. This comes about from the surface low making its
way east to southeast across portions of the combined Panhandles.
However, going into Monday this front quickly retreats northeast
and southwest to westerly winds return at the surface. Winds will
be on the breezy to slightly windy side. With the LLTR returning
as well as downsloping winds helping with adiabatic heating,
temps will rise into the 80s once again and RH values will
plummet. Elevated to low end critical fire weather conditions will
be present for the central to western portions of the FA once
again on Monday.

Monday night into Tuesday morning the next upper level system will
move across the Rockies with the base of the H5 trough bringing H5
winds of 100 kts to the northwestern half of the combined
Panhandles. A stack jet will set up over the area, along with
breezy winds behind a Pacific front entering the combined
Panhandles. This front is progged to push the LLTR out of the
Panhandles to the east. This will bring cooler temperatures to the
west and northwestern zones of the FA Tuesday afternoon. However,
the the RH values are still expected to be really low in the
west around 10 percent. This will be do to lower dew points
moving into the area behind the Pacific front. Wide spread
critical fire weather conditions are expected Tuesday do to the
winds and low RH. Wind highlights are looking like they will be
needed for Tuesday.

An Arctic front will move in from the north to northwest Tuesday
night with that system. Because of this, temperatures are
expected to drop below freezing for much of the area after
several nights of staying above freezing. The northwest may even
fall into the low 20s. Temperatures will continue to be suppressed
Wed afternoon through Thu afternoon with highs only expected to
reach the upper 50s to lower 60s.

36

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1209 AM CDT Sat Apr 1 2023

VFR conditions are expected at the terminals throughout the valid
TAF period. Wind speeds will continue to calm down this morning
and may go light and variable for the most part. The wind will
turn and eventually become south/southwesterly again tomorrow,
and should stay breezy through the night and into Sunday morning.
Lastly, only expecting a few high clouds later today, but overall
expecting plenty of sunshine this afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 242 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

Really low RH values in the single digits to lower teens during
the afternoons through Wed, with maybe upper teens to low twenties
for Thu afternoon. Temperatures will be on the rise starting
tomorrow with afternoon highs expected to reach 80s Sunday and
Monday afternoon as a LLTR sets up. Thankfully on these days there
is not much of a stacked jet to worry about. On Tuesday an upper
level system will bring in a Pacific front that will lead to the
possibility of high winds and high fire danger. Elevated to
critical fire weather conditions will be possibly every day now
through Tuesday afternoon, with Mon and Tue being of greatest
concern. For more information please read the short term and long
term forecast discussions above.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Amarillo TX                72  45  82  47 /   0   0   0   0
Beaver OK                  68  46  81  42 /   0   0   0   0
Boise City OK              67  40  78  39 /   0   0   0   0
Borger TX                  73  47  85  47 /   0   0   0   0
Boys Ranch TX              74  43  82  45 /   0   0   0   0
Canyon TX                  73  44  82  46 /   0   0   0   0
Clarendon TX               70  43  83  48 /   0   0  10   0
Dalhart TX                 70  38  79  38 /   0   0   0   0
Guymon OK                  69  43  81  40 /   0   0   0   0
Hereford TX                74  42  82  45 /   0   0   0   0
Lipscomb TX                69  45  83  45 /   0   0   0   0
Pampa TX                   69  46  83  47 /   0   0   0   0
Shamrock TX                70  43  82  48 /   0   0  10   0
Wellington TX              70  43  83  47 /   0   0  10   0

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
OK...Red Flag Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this
     evening for OKZ001.

&&

SHORT TERM...36
LONG TERM....36
AVIATION...24

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 9:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1039 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-011100-
Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb-
Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson-
Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth-
Palo Duro Canyon-
1039 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles.

.DAY ONE...Rest of Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Elevated to critical fire weather conditions will be possible
Saturday through Wednesday, especially for central to western
portions of the combined Panhandles.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

Area fire managers and emergency officials should be alert for
elevated or critical fire weather conditions Saturday through
Wednesday.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 31, 9:04 PM CST, 2 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1004 PM CDT FRI MAR 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1024 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  2 N TEXLINE             36.41N 103.02W
03/31/2023  M46 MPH          DALLAM             TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 46 MPH AT 10:24 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:00 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 6:37 PM CDT.

1029 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 SSW PANHANDLE         35.33N 101.39W
03/31/2023  M43 MPH          CARSON             TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 43 MPH AT 10:29 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 9:49 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:45 PM CDT.

1040 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  10 E MIAMI              35.69N 100.46W
03/31/2023  M44 MPH          HEMPHILL           TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 44 MPH AT 10:40 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:34 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 3:38 PM CDT.

1049 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  2 NW LAKE MCCLELLAN     35.24N 100.90W
03/31/2023  M47 MPH          GRAY               TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 47 MPH AT 10:49 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 9:55 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 3:28 PM CDT.

1055 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 NW PALO DURO RESERVOI 36.35N 101.17W
03/31/2023  M45 MPH          HANSFORD           TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 45 MPH AT 10:55 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:00 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 1:20 PM CDT.

1106 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  8 W LIPSCOMB            36.23N 100.41W
03/31/2023  M49 MPH          LIPSCOMB           TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 49 MPH AT 11:06 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:45 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:15 PM CDT.

1106 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 W LIPSCOMB            36.22N 100.41W
03/31/2023  M61 MPH          LIPSCOMB           TX   MESONET

            FIRST WIND GUST REPORT FOR THIS LOCATION.
            EVENT IS ONGOING.

1116 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  GOODNIGHT               35.03N 101.19W
03/31/2023  M44 MPH          ARMSTRONG          TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 44 MPH AT 11:16 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 11:00 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 1:55 PM CDT.

1130 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  11 SSW ROMERO           35.58N 103.01W
03/31/2023  M43 MPH          OLDHAM             TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 43 MPH AT 11:30 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 11:30 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:47 PM CDT.

1136 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  3 SE DUMAS              35.83N 101.93W
03/31/2023  M47 MPH          MOORE              TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 47 MPH AT 11:36 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:09 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 6:26 PM CDT.

1141 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  4 E VEGA                35.25N 102.36W
03/31/2023  M44 MPH          OLDHAM             TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 44 MPH AT 11:41 AM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 9:33 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 5:56 PM CDT.

1146 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE DUMAS              35.83N 101.92W
03/31/2023  M58 MPH          MOORE              TX   MESONET

            FIRST WIND GUST REPORT FOR THIS LOCATION.
            EVENT IS ONGOING.

1210 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 NNW STINNETT          35.84N 101.45W
03/31/2023  M45 MPH          HUTCHINSON         TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 45 MPH AT 12:10 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:02 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:17 PM CDT.

1215 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE HEREFORD          34.86N 102.33W
03/31/2023  M61 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   AWOS

            FIRST WIND GUST REPORT FOR THIS LOCATION.
            EVENT IS ONGOING.

1242 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  7 SSE AMARILLO          35.11N 101.77W
03/31/2023  M44 MPH          RANDALL            TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 44 MPH AT 12:42 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 11:25 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 3:08 PM CDT.

1257 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  11 WNW BOOTLEG          34.89N 102.99W
03/31/2023  M46 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 46 MPH AT 12:57 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 9:33 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 1:11 PM CDT.

1257 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ESE PAMPA             35.54N 100.93W
03/31/2023  M59 MPH          GRAY               TX   MESONET

            FIRST NON-TSTORM WIND GUST REPORT FOR THIS
            EVENT. EVENT IS ONGOING.

1258 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  3 NNE UMBARGER          34.99N 102.08W
03/31/2023  M44 MPH          RANDALL            TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 44 MPH AT 12:58 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:03 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:15 PM CDT.

0111 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW DALHART            36.02N 102.55W
03/31/2023  M58 MPH          HARTLEY            TX   ASOS

            FIRST WIND GUST AT THIS SITE. ONGOING WIND
            EVENT.

0112 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  2 NW HEREFORD           34.84N 102.42W
03/31/2023  M45 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 45 MPH AT 1:12 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 10:24 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 2:11 PM CDT.

0135 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  5 ENE HEREFORD          34.86N 102.33W
03/31/2023  M45 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   AWOS

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 45 MPH AT 1:35 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 11:35 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 1:55 PM CDT.

0139 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 E VEGA                35.24N 102.35W
03/31/2023  M60 MPH          OLDHAM             TX   MESONET

            FIRST WIND GUST REPORT AT THIS SITE. EVENT
            IS ONGOING.

0147 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 W CANYON              34.98N 101.94W
03/31/2023  M42 MPH          RANDALL            TX   MESONET

            PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 42 MPH AT 1:47 PM
            CDT. FIRST SUSTAINED WIND OF 40 MPH OR
            GREATER AT 11:00 AM CDT WITH THE LAST
            OCCURRING AT 1:35 PM CDT.

0155 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 N BORGER              35.70N 101.39W
03/31/2023  M58 MPH          HUTCHINSON         TX   ASOS

            FIRST NON-TSTORM WIND GUST REPORT FOR THIS
            EVENT. EVENT IS ONGOING.

0202 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 N BORGER              35.70N 101.39W
03/31/2023  M61 MPH          HUTCHINSON         TX   ASOS

            PEAK NON-TSTM WIND GUST OF THE DAY.

0529 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WSW GUYMON            36.68N 101.51W
03/31/2023  M60 MPH          TEXAS              OK   ASOS

            FIRST WIND GUST REPORT AT THIS LOCATION.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Dallam

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallam forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.278, -102.602 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The western third of the county started the month of April in Exceptional Drought (D4), as well as a small portion of the northeastern part of the county. A small part of the southeast was in Severe Drought (D2), with the rest of the county started the month with Extreme Drought (D3). Within the first few days the area of D2 degraded to D3, as time continued with no beneficial rainfall. The areas in D4 remained the same at the end of the month and the rest of the county was in D3 at months end despite 1 to 1.5 of rainfall by late in the month.

Drought, Hartley

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hartley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.840, -102.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The northwestern corner of the county started April with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions with the rest of the county in Severe Drought (D2). Within the first couple of days in April the area of D3 expanded across the north to the northeastern corner of the county. With much of the southern portion of the county receiving around half an inch or less of rainfall the rest of the county had degraded into D3. A portion of the northwest fell into Exceptional Drought (D4) as well.

Drought, Sherman

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sherman forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.278, -101.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southeastern corner of the county started the month in Extreme Drought (D3) while the majority of the county was in Exceptional Drought (D4). With minimal rainfall, less than 1.5 for the whole month, no changes were made to the drought categories in the county at the end of April.

Drought, Moore

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Moore forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.838, -101.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moore County started the month of April with the southwestern third to half of the county in Severe Drought (D2). The rest of the county was in Extreme Drought (D3) with a small portion in the far northeast corner in Exceptional Drought (D4). With the southwestern portion of the county in D2 receiving less than an inch in the entire month, this area degraded into Extreme Drought (D3) by the end of the month.

Drought, Hansford

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hansford forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.278, -101.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hansford County started and ended the month of April with the vast majority of the county in Exceptional Drought (D4). The exception being the far southeast corner that started and ended the month in Extreme Drought (D3). Spring rains were short with only 1 to 1.5 of rainfall occurring during the month.

Drought, Ochiltree

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ochiltree forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.278, -100.816 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ochiltree County started the month with three quarters of the county in Exceptional Drought (D4). With the exception of a small area in the southeast corner being in Severe Drought (D2), the rest of the county was classified in Extreme Drought (D3).

Drought, Lipscomb

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lipscomb forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 36.278, -100.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lipscomb County started the month with the northwest third of the county in Exceptional Drought (D4), with the rest of the county in Extreme Drought (D3). A good portion of the the northern half to two thirds of the county received close to 2 of rain for the month. This allowed the northwestern portion of the county to improve to D3, with the entire county ending the month in D3.

Drought, Hutchinson

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hutchinson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.840, -101.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hutchinson County started the month of April with Exceptional Drought (D4) across northern portions of the county and Extreme Drought (D3) elsewhere. With the county receiving near normal to just below normal precipitation in the latter part of the month. The drought classifications for the county remained in place at the end of the month.

Drought, Roberts

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Roberts forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.839, -100.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roberts County started the month of April with the northwestern third of the county in Extreme Drought (D3), while the southeasthern two thirds saw Severe Drought (D2) conditions. By mid month, the continuation of dry and warm conditions plunged the entire county into D3 where the whole of the county ended the month. The county only received 50% to 90% of the monthly April normal rainfall.

Drought, Armstrong

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Armstrong forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.965, -101.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hemphill had a small area of Extreme Drought (D3) in the far northeastern corner of the county at the beginning of April. The rest of the county started the month in Severe Drought (D2). Much of the county received 1.5 of rain or less during the month. This was below the normal April rainfall of 2 to 3. Therefore, the entire county ended the month in Extreme Drought with the exception of the far southern edge of the county that remained in D2.

Drought, Oldham

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Oldham forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.405, -102.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe Drought (D2) conditions existed across the north and eastern portion of the county at the start of the month, with Moderate Drought (D1) across the remaining portions. The lack of rain continued until the entire county was in D2 by week 3 and all of the county slipping into Extreme Drought (D3) by months end. The county had only received 0.25 to less than an inch of rainfall for the month which was only about 50% to 75% of the April normal.

Drought, Deaf Smith

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Deaf Smith forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.966, -102.605 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southern portion of the county started the month in Extreme Drought (D3). The northwest corner of the county started in Moderate Drought (D1) with the rest of the county in Severe Drought (D2). By the third week the area of D1 slipped into the D2 category and by the end of the month almost all of the county was in D3. The exception being a small area in the far eastern portion of the county that remained in D2. The central and western portions of the county received less than 0.5 of rainfall during the month. The area that stayed D2 did receive the normal monthly April rainfall while the rest of the county was below normal.

Drought, Potter

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Potter forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.401, -101.894 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Potter County started the month of April with the far northeastern corner of the county in Extreme Drought (D3), and the rest of the county in Severe Drought (D2). With the county ending the month of April 0.5 to 1 below the monthly normal rainfall, the vast majority of the county ended the month in D3.

Drought, Randall County

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Randall County forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.966, -101.897 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small area of the county in the southwest corner started the month of April with Extreme Drought (D3) conditions. The rest of the county started the month in Severe Drought (D2). Extreme drought conditions overtook the northern into central portions of the county at the end of the month as these areas continued with a dry streak and only receiving around 50% of normal April rainfall.

Drought, Carson

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Carson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.404, -101.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Carson County started the month with Extreme Drought (D3) in the north and Severe Drought (D2) elsewhere. Much of the county received 50% to 90% of the normal April rainfall. This lead to much of the county remaining unchanged in drought category with a slight increase in D3 in the far western portion of the county.

Drought, Gray

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Gray forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.401, -100.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gray County started the month in Severe Drought (D2). Much of the county received near normal April rainfall with the exception of the northwest corner. Because of this, the northwest slipped into Extreme Drought (D3).

Drought, Wheeler

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 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)

Wheeler County started and ended the month in Severe Drought (D2). With the county only receiving 75% to 90% of the normal April rainfall during the month drought classification remained unchanged.

Drought, Armstrong

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Armstrong forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.965, -101.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Armstrong County started and ended the month in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. Despite receiving near normal April rainfall over much of the county, this was not enough to offset the overall deficit for any improvements to made to the drought category.

Drought, Donley

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Donley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Donley County started the month in Severe Drought (D2). The only change was a small isolated area in the southeast corner that ended the month in Extreme Drought (D3). The vast majority of the county ended the month with near normal rainfall for April.

Drought, Collingsworth

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Collingsworth County started the month with the southeast corner of the county in Extreme Drought (D3) and the rest of the county in Severe Drought (D2). By the end of the month the whole southeastern half of the county was in D3, with a small area in the far southeast corner degrading to Exceptional Drought (D4). The southeast where the degradations occurred only received 50% or less of normal April rainfall totals.

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 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, April 2023

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: 1095938, 1095939, 1095940, 1095941, 1095942, 1095943, 1095945, 1095946, 1095947, 1095948, 1095949, 1095950, 1095951, 1095952, 1095953, 1095954, 1095955, 1095956, 1095957, 1095958.