AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Water Development Board reported an overall improvement in drought conditions across the state, while drought remained mostly stagnant in the Texas Panhandle ahead of the start of a likely dry autumn season.
According to the TWDB’s most recent “Water Weekly” report, drought conditions impacted 32% of the area in Texas compared to 36% one week ago, 29% three months ago and 86% one year ago.
While drought conditions improved in Central and North Texas at the start of September due to regional rainfall, the TWDB noted that it was not confident that recent rains would be able to sustain continued improvements in the upcoming week.
Drought conditions in the Texas Panhandle remained steady week-to-week, according to the TWDB. The area’s southeasternmost counties recorded experiencing “extreme” drought conditions while “moderate” and “severe” conditions emerged and lingered in other eastern counties.
Meanwhile, the Abilene area recorded its driest summer since 1956. In the last 77 years, the TWDB noted that only the summers of 1952, 1954 and 1956 have been noted with drier conditions. Despite rainfall in September, the deficit of rain in the area since January has remained at nearly 1 inch.