Texas, 2023

Drought in Texas, October 1 to 31, 2023

October 1 to 31, 2023 · NWS SHV · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Severe (D2) to Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted across much of East Texas throughout the month of October. This was in response to a flash drought that resulted from an exceptionally hot and dry summer, beginning in mid-June with well below normal rainfall and an extended period of triple-digit high temperatures during much of July and August.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
9

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 SHV wrote it up.

Severe (D2) to Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted across much of East Texas throughout the month of October. This was in response to a flash drought that resulted from an exceptionally hot and dry summer, beginning in mid-June with well below normal rainfall and an extended period of triple-digit high temperatures during much of July and August. Total rainfall amounts during much of the summer period were only near 25% of normal or less, and were only slightly improved during the early fall season. This dryness contributed to lower than normal streamflow observed across area creeks, streams, and rivers through the end of October.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Angelina

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Angelina forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.255, -94.612 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cherokee

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cherokee forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.837, -95.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Harrison

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.548, -94.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Nacogdoches

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Nacogdoches forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.616, -94.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Panola

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Panola forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.162, -94.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rusk

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Rusk forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.108, -94.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Sabine

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Sabine forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.343, -93.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Augustine

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
San Augustine forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.394, -94.168 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Shelby

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Shelby forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.792, -94.145 (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

More

Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1145269, 1145270, 1145271, 1145272, 1145273, 1145274, 1145275, 1145276, 1145277.