The Texas Panhandle is in the middle of one of its longest dry spells ever.
As The Texas Tribune reports,the Amarillo area hasn't received measurable rainfall in more than 100 days. The Panhandle is the most severe example of a larger problem. According to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 40 percent of Texas is now experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. And things aren’t expected to improve anytime soon.
The massive dry spell comes as an even bigger shock to Texas’s system after last year’s heavy rains. Last August was the wettest year in the state in 124 years. Beaumont received 50 inches of rain during Hurricane Harvey. Now that same East Texas city is in the midst of a drought.
Meanwhile, all 26 of the Panhandle’s counties are in a severe to extreme drought, and most have burn bans in effect.