Texas’ drought status has improved significantly over the past few months, thanks to rainfall and a few snow and ice storms. But the percentage of the state remaining in moderate to extreme drought has stuck at 39 percent for several weeks and some fairly large areas remain in dire straits, reports Southwest Farm Press.
Compared to last year at this time, 54 percent of the state was in moderate to exceptional drought. Farmers and ag experts are hesitant to call the drought over, however, even in locations showing only abnormally dry conditions or currently considered drought free.
The Rolling Plains remains the driest part of the state, down into North Texas where two significantly dry blots on the map indicate exceptional drought status. Surrounding those worst sections of the state are areas considered in extreme drought. Much of the Texas Panhandle remains in severe drought.
Statewide reservoir levels have changed little, remaining remarkably flat over the past year at or barely above 20 million acre-feet. Under normal conditions, expected reservoir storage volumes should be 24 to 26 million acre-feet, depending on the time of year.