The U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday showed abnormally dry conditions for Crosby County but most of the counties of the South Plains were free of drought.

Officially, Lubbock’s rainfall total year-to-date as of Thursday was 12.97 inches as measured at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. 

Normal for this time would be 17.81 inches – making for a rainfall deficit of 4.84 inches. 

Several counties around Lubbock were enforcing burn bans as of Thursday.  They included Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Garza, Lamb, Swisher, and Yoakum.

Sixty three counties statewide had burn bans according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Areas to the north of Amarillo were shown in the Drought Monitor to be either abnormally dry or in moderate drought.  More than two dozen counties along the eastern and northeastern edge of Texas were listed in severe drought.