Texas drought worsens for 3rd week, worst since December 2023

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Water Development Board reported that drought conditions across Texas worsened for the third week in a row in a trend expected to continue in the coming weeks.

The TWDB reported in its most recent “Water Weekly” that drought conditions across Texas going into the last days of August reached the largest extent since December 2023, impacting 40% of the state compared to 30% one week ago, 26% three months ago and 79% one year ago.

Drought intensified in some areas of the Texas Panhandle in the last week, focused mostly on the southernmost and westernmost counties in drought levels ranging from “abnormally dry” to “severe.”

Meanwhile, drought across the state remained the most intense in the western Big Bend region. Another 20% of the state, said TWDB, is vulnerable to drought in the coming weeks.

The TWDB further noted that August has shaped up to be hotter and drier than normal for Texas, triggering the recent drought expansion. The most recent seasonal drought forecast from the National Weather Service did not inspire confidence that the Lone Star State would see significant drought relief in the coming months. Rather, continued drought expansion is anticipated in Texas throughout the end of November.

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