252
AXUS74 KCRP 091209
DGTCRP
TXZ229>234-239>247-231215-
DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
709 AM CDT THU MAY 9 2013
...BENEFICIAL RAINFALL BRINGS SOME MINOR DROUGHT RELIEF TO
PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS...
...STAGE 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR CORPUS CHRISTI EXPECTED TO TAKE
EFFECT ON MAY 16...
...CITY OF LAREDO IMPROVES TO EXTREME DROUGHT STATUS WHILE
VICTORIA IMPROVES TO MODERATE DROUGHT STATUS...
SYNOPSIS
WIDESPREAD BENEFICIAL RAINFALL FINALLY VISITED SOUTH TEXAS...
ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL. MOST OF
THE RAINFALL RECEIVED DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS FELL DURING THE
LAST FEW DAYS OF APRIL...BETWEEN THE EVENING OF APRIL 27 THROUGH
APRIL 29...AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER
THE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO PROVIDED THE FOCUS FOR THE CONVECTION
WHICH EITHER FORMED OVER OR MOVED INTO SOUTH TEXAS. SOME OF THE
HEAVIEST CONVECTION ORGANIZED INTO A MESO-CONVECTIVE SYSTEM
(MCS)...MAINLY DURING THE EVENING/OVERNIGHT HOURS OF APRIL
27/28. MOST OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY OCCURRED ON APRIL 29...AND MAINLY FELL OVER THE NORTHERN
COASTAL BEND AND VICTORIA CROSSROADS REGION.
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS...SCATTERED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 OR
MORE INCHES...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 5 INCHES...WERE
OBSERVED OVER PORTIONS OF THE HYDROLOGIC SERVICE AREA (HSA). WHILE
MOST OTHER AREAS SAW AT LEAST 1/2 INCH OF RAIN...THERE WERE A FEW
AREAS (MAINLY NORTHERN MCMULLEN COUNTY) THAT SAW LESS THAN 1/4
INCH OF PRECIPITATION. ALTHOUGH THE RAIN WAS WIDESPREAD AND MUCH
NEEDED...SO MUCH OF THE HSA HAS VERY LARGE RAINFALL DEFICITS SINCE
EARLY OCTOBER THAT...ONLY SOME MINOR DROUGHT RELIEF WAS OBSERVED OVER
A FEW AREAS.
THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR...VALID AS OF 7 AM EST MAY
7...2013...SHOWS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OVER THE HSA...
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D4) EXIST OVER AN AREA ENCLOSED
BY THE FOLLOWING LINES. D4 CONDITIONS EXIST NEAR...WEST AND SOUTH
OF A LINE LOCATED FROM ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF MALAQUITE BEACH...TO
ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF CHAPMAN RANCH...TO ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF
CORPUS CHRISTI AIRPORT...TO ABOUT 2 MILES WEST OF SINTON...TO NEAR
ST. PAUL...TO NEAR PAPALOTE...TO JUST SOUTH OF SKIDMORE...TO ABOUT
8 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF SKIDMORE AND 8 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF
BEEVILLE. D4 CONDITIONS ARE THEN NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF BEEVILLE...TO NEAR
LAGARTO...TO NEAR PERNITAS POINT...TO NEAR SAN PATRICIO...TO ABOUT
4 MILES SOUTH OF EDROY...TO ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF BLUNTZER...TO
ABOUT 3 MILES EAST OF BANQUETTE...TO ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF
DRISCOLL...TO ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF BISHOP...TO ABOUT 9 MILES
WEST NORTHWEST OF KINGSVILLE...TO ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF PALITO
BLANCO. D4 CONDITIONS ARE THEN LOCATED NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST OF A
LINE FROM ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF PALITO BLANCO...TO NEAR SAN
DIEGO...TO ABOUT 9 MILES NORTH OF SAN DIEGO...TO ABOUT 3 MILES
SOUTH OF FREER...TO ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF FREER.
FINALLY...D4 CONDITIONS EXIST NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
LOCATED FROM ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF FREER...ABOUT 18
MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF FREER...TO ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF
REALITOS...TO ABOUT 8 MILES EAST OF HEBBRONVILLE. THE CITIES OF
KINGSVILLE...DRISCOLL...BISHOP...EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF
CORPUS CHRISTI...MATHIS AND BENAVIDES ARE IN D4 STATUS.
OUTSIDE OF THE D4 AREA...EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D3) EXIST
ALONG...WEST AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM ABOUT 13 MILES EAST
OF CHUPADERA RANCH AIRPORT...TO ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF LA
ESPERANZA RANCH AIRPORT...TO ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF LA ESPERANZA
RANCH AIRPORT...TO ABOUT 11 MILES EAST OF LA ESPERANZA RANCH
AIRPORT...TO NEAR ENCINAL...TO ABOUT 9 MILES EAST OF
CALLAGHAN...TO ABOUT 9 MILES NORTH OF RANCHITOS LAS LOMAS...TO
ABOUT 17 MILES NORTH OF OILTON...WITH THE LINE EXTENDING NORTHEAST
TO ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF FREER AND 5 MILES NORTH OF FREER...TO
JUST SOUTH OF SEVEN SISTERS...TO JUST NORTH OF CLEGG...TO NEAR
RIVER CREEK ACRES...TO ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF BEEVILLE...TO ABOUT
5 MILES NORTH OF SKIDMORE...TO ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF SKIDMORE...TO
NEAR TAFT...TO NEAR PORTLAND...TO NEAR MUSTANG ISLAND STATE PARK.
THIS PUTS THE CITIES OF ALICE...SINTON...PORTLAND...FREER...THE
REMAINDER OF CORPUS CHRISTI...AND LAREDO IN D3 STATUS.
OUTSIDE THE D4 AND D3 AREAS...SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D2) EXIST
NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM ABOUT 8 MILES EAST OF
DILLEY...TO NEAR GARDENDALE...TO NEAR COTULLA...TO JUST EAST OF
ARTESIA WELLS...TO ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF FORT EWELL SITE...TO
ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF FORT EWELL SITE...TO ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH
OF FOWLERTON...TO ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF LOMA ALTA. THE D2 AREA IS
THEN NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE LOCATED FROM 7 MILES WEST OF
LOMA ALTA...TO ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF LOMA ALTA...TO ABOUT 8
MILES EAST OF TILDEN...TO ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF CROWTHER...TO ABOUT
2 MILES WEST OF WHITSETT. HOWEVER...THIS D2 AREA ONLY EXTENDS AS
FAR EAST WITHIN THE AREA WEST OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR PORT
ARANSAS...TO JUST EAST OF ARANSAS PASS...TO ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF
PALM HARBOR...TO ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF BAYSIDE...TO ABOUT 8 MILES
WEST OF WOODSBORO...TO ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF BLANCONIA...TO ABOUT
4 MILES EAST OF BERCLAIR...TO ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF GOLIAD...TO
JUST EAST OF ANDER. A FINAL D2 AREA EXISTS OVER THE EASTERN
PORTION OF CALHOUN COUNTY AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN VICTORIA
COUNTY...GENERALLY NEAR...EAST AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM A
FEW MILES WEST OF MATAGORDA ISLAND STATE PARK...TO NEAR
DACOSTA...TO NEAR LA WARD (IN JACKSON COUNTY). THE CITIES OF
BEEVILLE...THREE RIVERS...COTULLA...PORT O'CONNOR AND PORT LAVACA
ARE IN D2 STATUS.
OUTSIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS...MODERATE DROUGHT (D1)
CONDITIONS EXIST. THE CITIES OF TILDEN...FOWLERTON...VICTORIA...
ROCKPORT AND REFUGIO ARE IN THE D1 AREA.
SEE THE DROUGHT MONITOR PRODUCT (LINK PROVIDED AT THE END OF THE
STATEMENT) FOR A GRAPHICAL VIEW.
SUMMARY OF IMPACTS...
STATE AND LOCAL ACTIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE BURN BAN MAP OF MAY 8
2013...A BURN BAN NO LONGER EXISTS IN BEE COUNTY. THUS...BURN
BANS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE COUNTIES OF NUECES...KLEBERG...SAN
PATRICIO...ARANSAS...REFUGIO...LIVE OAK...DUVAL...LA SALLE AND
WEBB. RESIDENTS PLANNING ON BURNING SHOULD CONTACT COUNTY
OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT BURNING IS ALLOWED...AND ALSO TO SEE IF
ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW AND WHEN TO BURN ARE IN EFFECT.
CORPUS CHRISTI WATER OFFICIALS STILL PLAN TO INITIATE STAGE 3 OF
THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN ON MAY 16. UNDER THE STAGE 3
PLAN...RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BE LIMITED TO WATERING
THEIR LANDSCAPES ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE DAY OF THE WEEK TO
WATER WILL MATCH EACH PROPERTY'S RECYCLING SCHEDULE. HAND-HELD
WATERING DEVICES AND SOAKER HOSES WILL BE ALLOWED...BUT SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS WILL BE LIMITED TO WATERING ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THERE
WILL BE A TWO WEEK WARNING PERIOD BEFORE THE CITY BEGINS TO FINE
RESIDENTS FOUND BREAKING THE STAGE 3 RULES. RESIDENTS IN CORPUS
CHRISTI WITH SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE THEIR
WATERING TO EVERY OTHER WEEK NOW TO CONSERVE WATER AND PREPARE FOR
THE UPCOMING STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS (AND AVOID HEAVY FINES).
UNTIL THAT TIME THE STAGE 3 CONTINGENCY PLAN GOES INTO EFFECT FOR
CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENTS...STAGE 2 RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN EFFECT.
THESE WATER RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE:
- WATERING OF LANDSCAPES IS NOT ALLOWED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM
UNLESS RESIDENTS USE A HAND-HELD SPRINKLER OR BUCKET.
- LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO OBTAIN APPROVAL OF A WATERING
PLAN. COMMERCIAL NURSERIES MUST USE HAND HELD DEVICES OR DRIP
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TO IRRIGATE.
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES NOT COMPLYING WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS
WILL RECEIVE A FINE OF UP TO 500 DOLLARS.
THE CITY OF PORTLAND ALSO REMAINS UNDER MANDATORY WATER
RESTRICTIONS WITH THEIR STAGE 1 DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN.
PROVISIONS INCLUDE:
- NO IRRIGATION OR LAWN WATERING BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM UNLESS
RESIDENTS USE A HOSE BY HAND OR BUCKET.
- IRRIGATION MUST NOT RESULT IN WATER RUN-OFF NOR OVERFLOW INTO
STORM DRAINS.
- WATER MAY NOT RUN CONSTANTLY THROUGH A TAP...HYDRANT...OR VALVE.
- DEFECTIVE PLUMBING WHICH RESULTS IN WATER LOSS OR LEAKS MUST BE
REPAIRED.
THE CITY OF VICTORIA REMAINS UNDER THEIR STAGE 1 DROUGHT
CONTINGENCY PLAN...ASKING RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTARILY CONSERVE WATER.
THIS PLAN URGES RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTARILY REDUCE THEIR WATER FOR
NON-ESSENTIAL PURPOSES. THE CITY OF LAREDO ALSO OFFICIALLY
REMAINS UNDER VOLUNTARY WATER RESTRICTIONS.
RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSERVE WATER AND STOP
EXCESSIVELY WATERING THEIR LANDSCAPES. WATER CONSERVED NOW WILL
BE NEEDED MORE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS...ESPECIALLY IF WATER
SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO DWINDLE AND MORE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ARE
INSTITUTED. RESIDENTS ARE STILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO WATER ONLY
TO MAINTAIN SOIL MOISTURE. WATERING LANDSCAPES FOR ABOUT A HALF AN
HOUR ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO KEEP GRASSES
ALIVE. ALSO...IF ADEQUATE RAINFALL WAS RECENTLY RECEIVED...
WATERING SHOULD BE OMITTED FOR ONE OR TWO WEEKS. RESIDENTS WITH
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SHOULD CHANGE THEIR WATERING SCHEDULES TO WATER
MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY AND CONSERVE WATER.
WHEN WATERING IS NEEDED...CURTAIL WATERING TIME TO LESS THAN 30
MINUTES...AND USE A SPRINKLER WHICH MAKES LARGE WATER DROPLETS.
DO NOT ALLOW WATER TO RUNOFF INTO SIDEWALKS AND STREETS (YOU MAY
RECEIVE A FINE FOR DOING THIS). ALSO...WATER SLOWLY...AND AVOID
WATERING ON WINDY DAYS (WIND INCREASES EVAPORATION). MORE
INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONSERVE WATER IS FOUND ON CITY WEBSITES
LISTED AT THE END OF THIS STATEMENT.
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WITHIN THE HSA HAVE MAINTAINED EITHER
MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC WATER
SYSTEMS (PWS). RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN INFORMED ON ANY WATER
RESTRICTIONS WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED FOR THEIR LOCATION...AS ANY
VIOLATIONS CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT FINES. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (TCEQ)...HERE IS A LIST OF
LOCATIONS WITHIN THE HSA (AS OF MAY 1) WHICH HAVE WATER
RESTRICTIONS:
REMOVED RESTRICTIONS:
JIM WELLS COUNTY: LOMA LINDA WATER SUPPLY
NEW/AMENDED RESTRICTIONS:
BEE COUNTY: BLUEBERRY HILLS WATERWORKS (STAGE 2)
KLEBERG COUNTY: RICARDO WSC (STAGE 1)
NUECES COUNTY: NUECES WSC (STAGE 1)
PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS:
BEE COUNTY: CITY OF BEEVILLE (STAGE 1)
CALHOUN COUNTY: THE CITY OF PORT COMFORT (STAGE 1)
JIM WELLS COUNTY: CITY OF ALICE (STAGE 1)...ENGLISH ACRES (STAGE
3)...PAISANO MOBILE HOME PARK (STAGE 3)
KLEBERG COUNTY: KING RANCH SANTA GERTRUDIS DISTRICT (STAGE 1) AND
EAST RIVIERA WSC (VOLUNTARY)
LIVE OAK: BUCKEYE KNOLL (STAGE 1)...OLD MARBACH SCHOOL WSC
(VOLUNTARY)
NUECES COUNTY: NUECES COUNTY WCID 3 (VOLUNTARY)
SAN PATRICIO COUNTY: CITY OF TAFT (STAGE 1)...CITY OF ODEM (STAGE
1)...AND SAN PATRICIO MWD (STAGE 1)
WEBB COUNTY: MIRANDO CITY WSC (VOLUNTARY)
AGRICULTURAL AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS.
THE SOIL MOISTURE ANOMALY MAP FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER
VALID ON MAY 7 SHOWS IMPROVED BUT STILL BELOW NORMAL SOIL
CONDITIONS OVER THE HSA...WITH ANOMALIES GENERALLY BETWEEN -60 MM
AND -80 MM. SOIL MOISTURE RANKING PERCENTILES HAVE ALSO
IMPROVED...AND ARE MAINLY BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PERCENT. CROP MOISTURE
INDICES (FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 4) ARE NOW SLIGHTLY DRY/FAVORABLY
MOIST (BETWEEN -0.9 AND +0.9) OVER THE HSA. THE RAINFALL RECEIVED
NEAR THE END OF APRIL HAS BROUGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN SOIL MOISTURE TO
THE HSA...AND HOPEFULLY THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL FORECAST OVER
THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL AT WORST KEEP THESE SOIL MOISTURE
PARAMETERS FROM DIMINISHING.
IN AN ARTICLE IN ARGILIFE TODAY (HTTP://TODAY.AGRILIFE.ORG)...MUCH
OF TEXAS WARM SEASON GRASS PASTURES HAVE YET TO RECOVER FROM
DAMAGE SUFFERED FROM THE 2010 DROUGHT. THE RECOVERY IS DELAYED DUE
TO SEVERAL FACTORS...INCLUDING THE CONTINUING DROUGHT...COOLER
THAN AVERAGE WEATHER...CUTBACKS ON FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS...AND
OVERSTOCKING. MOST OF THE GREEN SEEN IN PASTURELAND IS NOT GRASS
BUT WEEDS. ONLY A FEW ARE USING FERTILIZER SINCE ITS PRICE IS SO
HIGH...AND GRASSES LIKE HYBRID BERMUDA MUST BE FERTILIZED OR THEY
WEAKEN AND OTHER SPECIES (FORBS AND WEEDS) START MOVING IN AND
TAKE THEIR PLACE. THE ARTICLE ALSO NOTED THAT SOUTH TEXAS GRASSES
ARE BASICALLY UNCHANGED FROM 2011.
IN ANOTHER RECENT ARGILIFE TODAY ARTICLE...SOUTH TEXAS RAINS IN
LATE APRIL APPARENTLY DID NOT HARM THE SOUTH TEXAS ONION HARVEST.
SINCE ONIONS ARE A DRY WEATHER CROP (AND THE WEATHER DURING ITS
GROWTH WAS NEARLY PERFECT FOR IT)...RAIN COULD HARM THE ONION
CROP. SINCE MOST OF THE CROP HAS BEEN HARVESTED AND...UNLESS IT
KEPT RAINING (WHICH IT HAS NOT)...THE ONION CROP SHOULD NOT BE
HURT.
IN ANOTHER RECENT ARGILIFE TODAY ARTICLE...THE RECENT RAINS IN
SOUTH TEXAS WILL LIKELY INCITE INSECTS...AND COULD DELAY THE
SUMMER HARVEST MAINLY IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY. RESIDENTS
ARE WARNED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MOSQUITOES...TERMITES...AND
FLYING ANTS.
IN ANOTHER RECENT ARGILIFE TODAY ARTICLE...DESPITE RECENT RAINS IN
LATE APRIL...DROUGHT-STRICKEN ROW CROP GROWERS MAINLY IN THE RIO
GRANDE VALLEY MAY BE IN FOR ANOTHER DISASTROUS YEAR...WITH CROP
LOSSES POSSIBLY REACHING 100 MILLION DOLLARS. LOSSES IN DROUGHT-
RELATED CROPS...SUCH AS COTTON...CORN AND GRAIN SORGHUM...COULD
DOUBLE THE 50 MILLION DOLLARS LOST IN 2006. FOR MANY DRYLAND
FARMERS...THE RAINS RECEIVED WERE LIKELY "TOO LITTLE-TOO LATE".
IN ANOTHER RECENT ARGILIFE TODAY ARTICLE...DROUGHT AND UP AND DOWN
TEMPERATURES ARE AFFECTING INSECT BEHAVIOR...EVERYTHING FROM
HONEYBEE BEHAVIOR TO THE DELAYED EMERGENCE OF PESTS. BEE SWARMING
IS MORE PREVALENT THIS SPRING...SINCE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PLANT
GROWTH AND NECTAR SUPPLIES...AND BEES ARE GOING TO NEW FOOD
SUPPLIES. A PEST WHICH MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED BY THE DROUGHT IS THE
GREENBUG...A PEST THAT SPREADS DISEASE IN WHEAT AND PECAN NUT
CASE-BEARERS.
THE TEXAS CROP AND WEATHER REPORT FOR APRIL 30 AND MAY 7 CONTAINED
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
FOR THE COASTAL BEND DISTRICT:
- A FEW COUNTIES REPORTED FROST...BUT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE TO CROPS. CORN APPEARED TO BE RECOVERING FROM THE FROST.
- COOLER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH DROUGHT SLOWED
CROP DEVELOPMENT. THIS INCLUDED COTTON GROWTH.
- CATTLE PRODUCERS CONTINUED TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR HERDS AS PASTURES
TRY TO RECOVER FROM THE DROUGHT.
FOR THE WESTERN AREAS (CONSIDERED PART OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT):
- ALTHOUGH RAINS IMPROVED SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS IN SOME
LOCATIONS...IN MOST CASES IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVE RANGELAND AND PASTURES.
- WITH HIGH HAY COSTS AND POOR GRAZING...PRODUCERS CONTINUED TO
REDUCE HERDS AND PURCHASE ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL FEED. MANY
LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WERE TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE BEST CATTLE
AND NOT TO SELL UNLESS IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
- IN MCMULLEN COUNTY...CATTLE BODY CONDITION SCORES WERE FAIR TO
POOR AND CONTINUED TO DECLINE. RANGELAND AND PASTURES REMAINED
IN POOR CONDITION...LEAVING RANCHERS WITHOUT GRAZING...AND THEY
CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FEED.
- IN JIM WELLS COUNTY...MOST ROW CROPS FAILED TO ESTABLISH A
STAND. CORN...GRAIN SORGHUM...AND COTTON WERE ALL EXPECTED TO BE
DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.
- IN WEBB COUNTY...LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WHO STILL HAVE CATTLE ARE
BURNING PRICKLY PEAR FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FEED...ALONG WITH MOLASSES
TUBES AND RANGE CUBES. RECENT RAINS WERE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE
RANGELAND AND PASTURES A LITTLE...BUT MORE RAIN WAS GREATLY
NEEDED.
- SPRING-PLANTED DRYLAND GRAIN AND COTTON WAS DEVASTATED BY THE
DROUGHT...BUT SOME OF THE IRRIGATED CROPS LOOKED GOOD.
ABNORMALLY COLD TEMPERATURES SLOWED PLANT GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
FIRE DANGER HAZARDS.
USING THE 5 DAY AVERAGE...A MODERATE TO HIGH FIRE DANGER EXISTS
OVER SOUTH TEXAS...WITH THE HIGH FIRE DANGER OVER THE RIO GRANDE
PLAINS...MOST OF THE BRUSH COUNTRY...AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN
PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL BEND. RAINFALL DURING LATE APRIL HELPED
BRING THE FIRE DANGER DOWN SLIGHTLY IN EARLY MAY...AND HOPEFULLY
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WILL DIMINISH THE
FIRE DANGER EVEN MORE. NEVERTHELESS...WITH SPRING IN FULL
SWING...THERE MAY STILL BE TIMES WHEN CRITICAL FIRE DANGER
CONDITIONS ARE REACHED OR EXCEEDED...MAINLY WHEN WINDS ARE
MODERATE TO STRONG AND HUMIDITY IS LOW.
RECENT COUNTY-AVERAGED KEETCH-BYRAM DROUGHT INDICES (KBDI) HAVE
ALSO DECREASED OVER MOST OF SOUTH TEXAS. ALTHOUGH THE HIGHEST
AVERAGES REMAIN OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE HSA...ALL OF SOUTH
TEXAS NOW HAS AVERAGED VALUES LESS THAN 600. THE FOLLOWING KBDI
AVERAGES WERE OBSERVED AS OF MAY 8:
200 TO 300: NONE
300 TO 400: VICTORIA AND GOLIAD COUNTIES.
400 TO 500: MCMULLEN...BEE...REFUGIO...ARANSAS AND CALHOUN
COUNTIES.
500 TO 600: LA SALLE...LIVE OAK...WEBB...DUVAL...JIM WELLS...
KLEBERG...NUECES AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES.
600 TO 700: NONE.
700 TO 800: NONE.
RIVER AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS.
INCREASED RELEASES FROM LAKE AMISTAD BEGAN TO DIMINISH ON APRIL
26...WITH MORE NORMAL RELEASES INITIATED ON APRIL 29. AS A
RESULT...THE RIO GRANDE RETURNED TO MORE NORMAL FLOWS.
IN A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD...FARMERS WHO USE
THE RIO GRANDE FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES ARE UPSET THAT MEXICO IS
IGNORING THE WATER DEBT OWED TO THE UNITED STATES DURING THIS
EXTENDED DROUGHT. RIO GRANDE VALLEY FARMERS...IRRIGATION DISTRICT
MANAGERS AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL LEADERS EXPRESSED THEIR ANGER WITH
MEXICO FOR HOLDING BACK WATER THAT COULD HELP PREVENT A DISASTER
FOR VALLEY AGRICULTURE. RIO GRANDE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY BOARD
MEMBERS SAID THERE IS SERIOUS TALK OF FARMERS BLOCKADING
INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES WITH TRACTORS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO MEXICO.
WATER EXPERTS SAY MEXICO HAS ALWAYS WAITED UNTIL A HURRICANE OR
OTHER STORMS ALLOWED IT TO PAY THE WATER IT OWED TO THE UNITED
STATES.
ELSEWHERE...RIVER AND CREEK LEVELS REMAIN BELOW TO WELL BELOW
NORMAL OVER THE GUADALUPE RIVER...THE FRIO RIVER AND NUECES RIVER
ABOVE CHOKE CANYON DAM...THE ATASCOSA RIVER...NORTHEASTERN COASTAL
CREEKS...AND SAN FERNANDO CREEK. COPANO CREEK AND THE SAN ANTONIO
RIVER ARE NEAR NORMAL LEVELS...AS WELL AS OSO CREEK AND THE
ARANSAS RIVER. FLOW ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER AT VICTORIA EXCEEDED 8
FEET (1335 CFS) AT THE END OF APRIL...BUT NOW HAS RETURNED TO
LEVELS BETWEEN 5.0 FEET (300 CFS) AND 5.5 FEET (511 CFS). AS LONG
AS FLOWS ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER REMAIN ABOVE 150 CFS (JUST ABOVE
4.1 FEET)...THE CITY OF VICTORIA CAN OBTAIN ITS WATER FROM THE
RIVER.
CHOKE CANYON DAM RECENTLY LOWERED ITS RELEASES TO MORE NORMAL
LEVELS...AS RAINFALL DURING LATE APRIL HELPED TO SLIGHTLY RE-
CHARGE LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI. UNFORTUNATELY...MOST OF THE HEAVY
RAINFALL RECEIVED IN LATE APRIL DID NOT FALL INTO THE WATERSHED
NORTH OF CHOKE CANYON DAM...SO VERY LITTLE RE-CHARGE WAS OBSERVED
IN CHOKE CANYON DAM. AS OF MAY 8...THE LEVEL AT CHOKE CANYON DAM
WAS AT 200.6 FEET (40.9 PERCENT CAPACITY)...WITH LAKE CORPUS
CHRISTI AT 77.4 FEET (16.3 PERCENT CAPACITY). THE COMBINED SYSTEM
CAPACITY FOR THE CORPUS CHRISTI WATER SUPPLY WAS AT 34.3
PERCENT...WHICH IS 0.1 PERCENTAGE POINT LOWER THAN ON APRIL 25.
THE LEVEL AT LAKE TEXANA ROSE TO NEAR CAPACITY...WITH THE LATEST
LEVEL AT 44.0 FEET (100.0 PERCENT CAPACITY)...OR 3.5 FEET HIGHER
THAN OBSERVED ON APRIL 25. THE LATEST POOL LEVEL ON COLETO CREEK
WAS 95.90 FEET...OR 0.62 FEET HIGHER THAN ON APRIL 25. CANYON DAM
WAS AT 899.05 FEET (80 PERCENT)...OR 0.22 FEET LOWER THAN ON APRIL
25. FINALLY...THE LEVEL AT LAKE AMISTAD WAS NOW AT 1056.26 FEET
(23 PERCENT CAPACITY)...OR 2.94 FEET LOWER THAN ON APRIL 25.
CLIMATE SUMMARY...
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL WERE NEAR NORMAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI
AND LAREDO (0.1 DEGREES AND 0.2 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...
RESPECTIVELY)...BUT BELOW NORMAL AT VICTORIA (1.7 DEGREES BELOW
NORMAL). AS A RESULT OF THE RAINFALL RECEIVED DURING THE LAST
HALF OF APRIL...RAINFALL DEFICITS OVER SOUTH TEXAS VARIED
SUBSTANTIALLY FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION. WHILE MUCH OF THE
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF MCMULLEN COUNTY RECEIVED NO MORE THAN 50
PERCENT OF THEIR NORMAL RAINFALL DURING APRIL...SOUTHERN PORTIONS
OF MCMULLEN AND WEBB COUNTIES RECEIVED MORE THAN 400 PERCENT OF
THEIR NORMAL APRIL RAINFALL. MOST LOCATIONS IN SOUTH TEXAS SAW AT
LEAST 75 PERCENT OF THEIR NORMAL RAINFALL DURING APRIL (ACCORDING
TO THE AHPS RAINFALL ANALYSIS). FORTUNATELY...SOME OF THE SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE HSA (WHERE THE DROUGHT HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL OR
EXTREME) RECEIVED ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION...ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN
WEBB COUNTY...WESTERN PORTIONS OF NUECES COUNTY...AND MUCH OF JIM
WELLS COUNTY. AT THE THREE CLIMATE STATIONS...APRIL RAINFALL WAS
0.26 INCHES BELOW NORMAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI (1.58 INCHES
RECEIVED/NORMAL 1.84 INCHES)...NEAR NORMAL AT VICTORIA (2.79
INCHES MEASURED/NORMAL 2.82 INCHES)...AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AT
LAREDO (1.74 INCHES RECEIVED/NORMAL 1.42 INCHES).
SINCE THE 2011 WATER YEAR BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1 2010...IT HAS BEEN
VERY DRY OVER SOUTH TEXAS. FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1 2010 THROUGH
APRIL 30 2013...THE FOLLOWING RAINFALL AMOUNTS...RAINFALL
DEFICITS...AND PERCENTAGES OF NORMAL HAVE BEEN OBSERVED OVER THE
CORPUS CHRISTI HSA (RAINFALL IS IN INCHES).
LOCATION OBSERVED RAINFALL PERCENT
RAINFALL DEFICIT OF NORMAL
CORPUS CHRISTI 35.84 42.32 46
VICTORIA 51.23 51.59 50
LAREDO 23.32 25.74 48
KINGSVILLE 34.69 38.37 47
COTULLA 31.72 23.67 57
BEEVILLE 36.72 44.78 45
UNFORTUNATELY...THE FIRST SEVERAL DAYS IN MAY HAVE BEEN VERY
DRY...WITH MOST AREAS RECEIVING NO MEASURABLE RAINFALL.
HOPEFULLY...RAINFALL EXPECTED BY THIS WEEKEND WILL HELP NOT ONLY
TO ELIMINATE THE MONTHLY DEFICITS...BUT BRING RAINFALL SURPLUSES
TO MOST OF THE HSA.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE TOTAL MONTHLY RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OBSERVED THROUGH MAY 9...SO FAR IN 2013...AND FOR THE TOTAL 2013
WATER YEAR WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER 1 2012. ALL VALUES ARE IN
INCHES...RAINFALL DEFICITS ARE SHOWN IN PARENTHESIS:
WATER YEAR
THRU MAY 8 2013 10/1/2012 - 05/08/2013
CORPUS CHRISTI T (0.70) 3.33 (4.57) 4.14 (12.05)
VICTORIA T (1.23) 7.20 (4.22) 9.17 (11.69)
LAREDO AIRPORT T (0.62) 2.49 (2.51) 3.11 (6.17)
FOR THE THREE CLIMATE STATIONS...THE 2013 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL
RAINFALL WAS: 42.2 PERCENT AT CORPUS CHRISTI...63.0 PERCENT AT
VICTORIA...AND 49.8 PERCENT AT LAREDO. THE WATER YEAR PERCENTAGES
OF NORMAL WERE AS FOLLOWS: 44.0 PERCENT AT VICTORIA...25.6 PERCENT
AT CORPUS CHRISTI...AND 33.5 PERCENT AT LAREDO.
THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) STILL EXPECTS ENSO (EL-NINO
SOUTHERN OSCILLATION) NEUTRAL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE SUMMER OF 2013 (AND PROBABLY INTO THE FALL OF 2013).
PROBABILISTIC OUTLOOKS INTO THE LONGER TERM HAVE PRETTY MUCH
STAYED THE SAME SINCE LATE APRIL. ALTHOUGH PROBABILISTIC ENSO
OUTLOOKS STILL FAVOR ENSO-NEUTRAL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE NOVEMBER-
DECEMBER-JANUARY TIME FRAME...THE CHANCES FOR LA NINA CONDITIONS
TO DEVELOP BY THE END OF THE YEAR ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS ENSO-
NEUTRAL CONDITIONS CONTINUING. IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS THREE
MONTH INTERVAL...THERE IS ABOUT A 37 PERCENT PROBABILITY FOR ENSO
NEUTRAL CONDITIONS...ABOUT A 29 PERCENT CHANCE FOR EL-NINO
CONDITIONS...AND ABOUT A 34 PERCENT CHANCE FOR LA NINA CONDITIONS
TO DEVELOP.
PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOKS...
RAINFALL CHANCES WILL INCREASE AS THE WEEKEND APPROACHES...AS A
FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND FORCING ALOFT COMBINE WITH PLENTIFUL
MOISTURE. THE BEST CHANCES FOR RAIN APPEAR TO BE FRIDAY NIGHT AND
SATURDAY. SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR WILL MOVE INTO SOUTH TEXAS BEHIND
THE FRONT ON SUNDAY...HOWEVER THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR
PRECIPITATION OVER ALL AREAS THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE RIO GRANDE
ON TUESDAY. ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE BETWEEN 3/4 AND 1 1/2
INCHES...WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED OVER THE RIO GRANDE
PLAINS AND BRUSH COUNTRY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SOME
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE RIO GRANDE MONDAY NIGHT AND
TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ARE EXPECTED
TO AVERAGE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL.
THE 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK...VALID FOR THE PERIOD MAY 16 THROUGH MAY
22...SHOWS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL AND BELOW
NORMAL TEMPERATURES OVER THE ENTIRE HSA.
THE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK FOR MAY...UPDATED ON APRIL 30...NOW SHOWS
A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES OVER SOUTH
TEXAS. HOWEVER...THE MAY OUTLOOK FOR RAINFALL FOR SOUTH TEXAS
STILL SHOWS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW AVERAGE
RAINFALL.
THE THREE-MONTH CLIMATE OUTLOOKS...VALID FOR MAY THROUGH
JULY...STILL FORECAST A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND EQUAL CHANCES FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL. THE DROUGHT OUTLOOK PRODUCT...ISSUED MAY 2 AND VALID
THROUGH THE END OF JULY...CALLS FOR THE DROUGHT TO CONTINUE (IF
NOT INTENSIFY) OVER CURRENT DROUGHT AREAS. HOWEVER...MUCH OF EAST
TEXAS AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL TEXAS (BOTH AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE
HSA) SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN THE DROUGHT (IF NOT DROUGHT CONDITIONS
ENDING). HOPEFULLY...AS THE WEEKS PROGRESS...DROUGHT OUTLOOK
PRODUCTS WILL BEGIN TO SHOW (AND EVENTUALLY VERIFY) DROUGHT
CONDITIONS IMPROVING OVER AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE HSA.
FINALLY...THE LAGGED AVERAGE SOIL MOISTURE OUTLOOK THROUGH THE
END OF AUGUST 2013 FORECASTS NEAR NORMAL SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS
OVER THE HSA. DESPITE EQUAL CHANCES FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL FOR THE MAY THROUGH JULY TIME FRAME...A TROPICAL SYSTEM
(IF NOT TWO OR THREE) WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TO BRING SOME
SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT RELIEF TO THE HSA. OTHERWISE...SOUTH TEXAS
WILL LIKELY HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS WATER SUPPLY ISSUES BY THE END
OF 2013...IF NOT SOONER.
NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THE NEXT DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED ON OR
SHORTLY AFTER MAY 23 2013.
RELATED WEB SITES...
NWS CORPUS CHRISTI DROUGHT PAGE:
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/CRP/DROUGHT.HTML
ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE (AHPS)...
HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/PRECIP
U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR (INCLUDES DROUGHT AND SOIL MOISTURE
OUTLOOKS... DROUGHT ARCHIVES AND TEMPERATURE/RAINFALL OUTLOOKS)...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/MONITOR.HTML
U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR (INCLUDES ONLY TEXAS)...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/DM_STATE.HTM?TX,S
U.S. DROUGHT PORTAL...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.GOV
TEXAS DROUGHT MONITORING SITE...
HTTP://WWW.TXWIN.NET/MONITORING/METEOROLOGICAL/DROUGHT/INDICES.HTM
NOAA DROUGHT PAGE...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.NOAA.GOV
DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER...
HTTP://DROUGHTREPORTER.UNL.EDU/
VEGETATION DROUGHT RESPONSE INDEX
HTTP://DROUGHT.UNL.EDU.VEGDRI/VEGDRI_MAIN.HTM?EV
CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER...
HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV
WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER...
HTTP://WWW.HPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV
STANDARDIZED PRECIPITATION INDEX (SPI)...
HTTP://WWW.WRCC.DRI.EDU/SPI/SPI.HTML
AGNEWS: TEXAS A & M AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM (CROP AND WEATHER REPORT)...
HTTP://TODAY.AGRILIFE.ORG
TEXAS INTERAGENCY COORDINATION CENTER (TICC)...
HTTP://WWW.TAMU.EDU/TICC/
TEXAS BURN BANS...HTTP://TFSFRP.TAMU.EDU/WILDFIRES/DECBAN.PNG
TEXAS KBDI...HTTP://WEBGIS.TAMU.EDU/TFS/KBDI_DAILY/KBDICOUNTY.PNG
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (WATER RESTRICTIONS):
WWW.TCEQ.TEXAS.GOV/DRINKINATER/TROT/LOCATION.HTML
CORPUS CHRISTI WATER CONSERVATION:
WWW.CCTEXAS.COM/WATER/CONSERVATION
VICTORIA WATER CONSERVATION:
WWW.VICTORIATX.ORG/PIO/PDFS/WATERSAVINGMETHODS.PDF
LAREDO WATER INFORMATION:
WWW.CI.LAREDO.TX.US/UTILITIES05/INDEX.HTML
CITY OF VICTORIA WEB SITE...WWW.VICTORIATX.ORG
CITY OF LAREDO WEB SITE...WWW.CI.LAREDO.TX.US
CITY OF PORTLAND WEB SITE...WWW.PORTLANDTX.COM
CORPUS CHRISTI WATER DEPARTMENT...WWW.CCTEXAS.COM/WATER
ADDITIONAL RIVER INFORMATION...
NWS...HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS/
USGS...HTTP://WATER.USGS.GOV/
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...
THE DROUGHT MONITOR IS A MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT INVOLVING THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE AND NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER...THE USDA...STATE
AND REGIONAL CENTER CLIMATOLOGISTS AND THE NATIONAL DROUGHT
MITIGATION CENTER. INFORMATION FOR THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN GATHERED
FROM NWS AND FAA OBSERVATION SITES...STATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
SERVICES...THE USDA...USACE AND USGS.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS DROUGHT INFORMATION
STATEMENT...PLEASE CONTACT...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
426 PINSON DRIVE
CORPUS CHRISTI TX 78406
PHONE: 361-289-0959 SR-
CRP.WEBMASTER@NOAA.GOV
GW
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