AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Water Development Board reported a worsening of drought conditions in the Texas Panhandle and statewide in the last week, a trend expected to persist through the end of the year.
According to the TWDB’s most recent “Water Weekly” report, drought conditions impacted 34% of the surface area of Texas compared to 32% one week ago, 30% three months ago and 82% one year ago.
Drought conditions as of mid-September in Texas showed an increase overall despite improvements in East, Central and South Texas. Any improvements to drought conditions, noted the TWDB, were outpaced by degradations in Central and North Texas and the Panhandle.
In the Texas Panhandle, drought conditions were reported in “extreme” drought levels in the southeasternmost corner of the region as well as the northeasternmost corner, with most of the rest of the counties experiencing “moderate” or “abnormally dry” conditions through the middle of September.
The TWDB noted that the National Weather Service anticipates the development of La Niña conditions during the fall and early winter, which will bring drier- and warmer-than-normal weather to Texas. As a result, the expectation is for drought conditions in Texas to persist or develop through the end of the year, particularly in the Texas Panhandle, North Texas and far West Texas areas.