The numbers are in and Terry County had very low rainfall in 2022. According to the South Plains Underground Water Conservation District (SPUWCD), the average rainfall amount in Terry County was 10.74 inches. 2022 was the third lowest rainfall in the past 30 years with 2011 being the lowest having only 4.84 inches and 2020 with the second lowest with 8.56 inches in rainfall.
SPUWCD has 36 rain gauges throughout the 891 square miles of Terry County. All 36 gauges record monthly rainfall and the information is averaged out. Gauge 34, which is located at the SPUWCD office (802 Tahoka Rd, Brownfield), had the most amount of precipitation throughout 2022 with 14.58 inches. The next highest rainfall recorded in Terry County was with gauge 36, located about four miles west on US 380, and had recorded 14.35 inches.
The lowest amount of rainfall was recorded at gauge 23 with 6.66 inches and the second lowest recorded is at gauge 27 with 8.23 inches. The location of these two gauges is on the western side of Terry County.
TERRY COUNTY MAP OF THE 36 GAUGES WITH EACH RAINFALL AMOUNT
According to the US Drought Monitor, Terry County is in two different stages of drought. In the northern/northwest section Terry County is in “moderate drought (D1), and in the southern/southeast portion of Terry County is in “severe drought (D2)” According to the National Weather Service, for the next seven days, there are not many chances of rain.
