Drought Information Statement for the South Plains, Rolling Plains, and far Southern Texas Panhandle 
Valid November 7, 2024
Issued By: WFO Lubbock, TX
Contact Information: lub.webmaster@noaa.gov
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/lub/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.

U.S. Drought Monitor
U.S. Drought Monitor for South Plains, Rolling Plains, and southern Texas Panhandle
DROUGHT CONDITIONS IMPROVE WITH WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT IN EARLY NOVEMBER
This product will be updated when severe drought (D3) conditions redevelop

Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Far southeastern Texas Panhandle, northern Rolling Plains, southwestern South Plains.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Southern and eastern South Plains, south central Texas Panhandle, western and central Rolling Plains.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Central and northern South Plains.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Drought Improved: All areas improved with no severe drought (D3) remaining.

Precipitation
Widespread rainfall was observed across the South Plains region over the past 30 days with most of the precipitation occurring within the first week of November. Most areas saw 30-day precipitation amounts of at least 100% of normal.

Last 30 days
Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Most area rivers and draws saw an increase in water flow during the first few days of November. Area reservoirs saw at least a slight increase in water levels (USGS and NWS River Gauges).

Agricultural Impacts
Please see the latest Crop and Weather Report from Texas A&M AgriLife.
Recent rainfall has been beneficial for drought stricken rangeland and winter wheat (USDA).

Fire Hazard Impacts
Recent widespread rainfall will keep ERC values low in the near term (TFS).

Other Impacts
Soil moisture values have increased to the 30th percentile or higher (NASA SpoRT-LiS).

Mitigation Actions
None reported

Reservoir levels have slowly decreased through much of October due to a lack of rainfall. Rainfall during the first week of November has increased water levels by roughly one to two percent.


Reservoir
Conservation Pool (ft)
Current Elevation (ft)
Percent Full
Mackenzie Lake
3100.0
3012.6
8%
White River Lake
2370.0
2348.9
16%
Lake Alan Henry
2220.0
2220.0
100%
Lake Meredith
2936.0
2887.8
39%

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
Areas of drought persistence and development are forecast across much of the far southern Texas Panhandle, Rolling Plains, and into portions of the eastern South Plains through the end of the year.