AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Despite rainfall during late September, drought conditions across Texas expanded for the 10th week in a row, impacting more than 90% of the state’s surface area for the first time since August 2022.
According to the most recent “Water Weekly” report from the Texas Water Development Board, 92% of Texas was impacted by drought conditions as of the week of Sept. 29, compared to 84% the previous week, 32% three months ago, and 24% one year ago.
Previously | Texas Panhandle ‘exceptional’ drought continues ahead of positive fall, winter outlook
In the Texas Panhandle, “exceptional” drought, the most severe category, was present in eight counties, with “extreme” and “severe” drought conditions covering the rest of the region.
Since Sept. 1, the TWDB said drought expanded from 69% to 92% of the state. Moisture associated with Tropical Storm Edouard in the east and monsoons in the west brought improvements in some areas, such as the severely drought-stricken Texas Panhandle, but most of the state experienced three classes of drought degradation.
Still, thanks to continued rainfall in early October, the TWDB noted next week’s upcoming map is expected to show some drought improvement…