Rain hasn't staved off drought conditions in North Texas
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Texas' drought conditions are much improved compared with the start of last summer. Maps courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Recent rainfall improved drought conditions statewide — but North Texas didn't get enough precipitation to be out of danger, even if it feels like it's rained almost every day.
Driving the news: Data released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows 56% of Texas was in some level of drought as of Tuesday, compared with 91% of the state around the same time last year.
Why it matters: Drought conditions affect crop production, lake levels, the risk of grass fires and the health of cattle. Last year's drought cost billions before extended periods of rainfall improved conditions by the end of the year.
- This summer, the state will need consistent rainfall, especially during the summer months, to stay out of drought.
The big picture: Above-average May rainfall from the Big Country to Central Texas resulted in improvements in many regions, per a recent report from the National Weather Service.
- "But for North Central and Northeast Texas, the wettest month of the year climatologically failed to live up to its billing. In Denton and Collin counties, year-to-date totals are well below normal, and drought conditions are beginning to re-emerge," the weather service said.
State of play: The National Weather Service recorded 2.4 inches of rain at DFW Airport in May, well below the mean of 4.7 inches. The June rainfall has worsened the deficit — only 0.6 inches were recorded at DFW Airport from June 1-14, below the mean of 1.8 inches.
- Dallas Love Field got 1.8 inches in May, below its mean of 4.6 inches — but the rainfall there so far in June has been almost 2 inches above the mean.
Threat level: Below-average rainfall in recent months has once again put parts of North Texas at risk, Drought Monitor data shows.
- 24% of Tarrant County was abnormally dry three months ago, while 76% of the county was in the normal range. As of Tuesday, 20% of the county was abnormally dry, 61% was in moderate drought, and only 19% was in the normal range.
- Dallas County was fully in the normal range three months ago, but 10% of the county was considered abnormally dry on Tuesday.
Meanwhile: The latest weather service forecast doesn't show significant rain chances in the coming week. A heat advisory is in effect today, and 100-degree days are on the horizon.
Zoom out: The weather service's July outlook, released Thursday, shows a 33-40% chance of above-normal rainfall in North Texas.
Of note: Drought data is updated every Thursday, so the impact of the rain overnight will not be known until next week.
Flashback: Last summer, lakes across North Texas had low water levels because of drought conditions that exposed shorelines and shut down boat ramps.
- By the end of the year, extended periods of rainfall had helped tamp down the drought.