CARSON COUNTY, Texas (KFDA) – Dry-land crops are slowly disappearing in Carson County as the area holds the distinction of being the driest place in Texas.
First Alert Meteorologist Shelden Breshears said the drought monitor shows extreme drought centered in Carson County, with conditions spreading into surrounding areas.
“When you look at the drought monitor as a whole, you have that extreme drought that’s up in Carson County and kind of spreads a little bit from there. We also have a little bit up in the far northeast as well in places like the Oklahoma Panhandle, around Cimarron County, Union Counties as well,” said Breshears.
In addition to Carson County, Gray, Armstrong, Roberts, Hutchinson, and Donley counties are also included in the extreme drought designation.
Breshears said the region is largely surrounded by severe drought conditions.
“The good news, though, is that we don’t have any exceptional drought, which is one step above extreme. Still, extreme is very high out there,” said Breshears.
Breshears attributes the conditions to a dry spring and summer in 2026.
The type of rainfall matters as much as the amount. While many residents want a single large rain event to end the drought, he said that approach would not produce lasting results.
“We need several good rainfalls over an extended period of time. The grass, they quickly respond to it. They green up really fast, but then, if the rainfall stops after that, those grasses, those fields go right back to drying out,” said Breshears.
Breshears said flash flooding conditions, similar to those seen around Amarillo and Hereford in 2023, are not what the region needs.
“We want just kind of those nice, steady rains and kind of spaced out over time so there’s enough time for the soil to soak everything in,” he said.
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