San Antonio to see more rain, but drought isn't over
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It's been a rainy April, helping to ease — but not eliminate — immediate drought conditions across San Antonio.
The big picture: Drought is now a part of daily life in the Alamo City. While the rain is welcome, it's not a magic wand.
The latest: More rain is expected Friday morning after storms that are forecast overnight Thursday. Rain and storm chances increase throughout the day Friday, Chris Morris, meteorologist with the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service office, tells Axios.
- A flood watch is in effect until 9pm Friday. Drivers could see dangerous conditions for morning and evening commutes, Morris says.
- Lows are expected to be in the 50s Saturday and Sunday morning.
What they're saying: "Turn around, don't drown," Morris says. "It's a lot easier to make up for lost time on a commute than to have to replace your vehicle."
State of play: About 7.3 inches of rain fell at San Antonio International Airport April 1 through Wednesday, per the local NWS office. That's more than three times the normal rainfall of about 2.3 inches for the month.
- Much of that, about 4.4 inches, fell during the storm on April 20.
- The aquifer, which remains SAWS' largest water source, stood at about 635 feet above mean sea level as of Thursday, per the Edwards Aquifer Authority. When April began, the aquifer was around 625 feet above mean sea level.
Yes, but: Watering rules for households in San Antonio haven't changed, as SAWS remains in Stage 3 restrictions.
Zoom out: Bexar County remained in varying stages of drought as of Tuesday, per the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The southern part of the county is in extreme drought, while areas in northern Bexar County are now experiencing moderate drought.
The bottom line: Despite a rainy April, it would take a lot more rain to actually get us out of the drought — 30 inches of it, per KSAT meteorologist Sarah Spivey.
- "This rainfall is going to be welcome to the drought situation. Every little bit helps," Morris says. "But we do still have a multi-year deficit that we're still making up for."
What's next: Before your Friday commute, head to bexarflood.org for real-time road closure information at low-water crossings.
- Beyond that, there are above normal chances of rain next week.