309
AXUS74 KCRP 062159
DGTCRP
TXZ229>234-239>247-202200-
DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
459 PM CDT THU JUN 6 2013
...BENEFICIAL RAINFALL CONTINUES TO BRING MINOR IMPROVEMENT TO
DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS...
...ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS REMAINS IN AT LEAST MODERATE DROUGHT
STATUS...
...THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI REMAINS UNDER STAGE 2 WATER
RESTRICTIONS...
...DROUGHT OUTLOOK CALLS FOR IMPROVING DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA WITH THE DROUGHT CONTINUING FARTHER
WEST...
.SYNOPSIS...
WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS HAS
HELPED TO IMPROVE DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER MANY AREAS...AS
EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DWINDLE
OVER THE HSA. SINCE THE END OF APRIL 2013...MOST OF THE SOUTHERN
COUNTIES OF THE HSA WENT FROM EXTREME TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT...TO
MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT...WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING THE SOUTHERN
COASTAL COUNTIES OF SOUTH TEXAS.
WIDESPREAD BENEFICIAL RAINFALL CONTINUED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH
TEXAS DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS. SOME OF THE RAINFALL WAS HEAVY
AND RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL
BEND AND VICTORIA CROSSROADS AREA. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL DURING
THE PAST TWO WEEKS OCCURRED FROM MAY 24 THROUGH MAY 26. LATE ON
MAY 24 THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF MAY 25...A COMPLEX OF STORMS
WHICH FORMED WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE AND OVER THE EDWARDS PLATEAU
REGION MOVED EAST INTO THE HYDROLOGIC SERVICE AREA (HSA)...
RESULTING IN RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OVER MUCH OF
THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS...BRUSH COUNTRY AND WESTERN COASTAL BEND. ON
MAY 25...A COMPLEX OF STORMS OVER THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY COMBINED
WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND PLENTIFUL ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE TO
PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL BEND AND
VICTORIA AREAS. ISOLATED RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 5 INCHES
WERE OBSERVED OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF BEE AND LIVE OAK
COUNTIES...AS WELL AS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF VICTORIA COUNTY. THIS
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING...RESULTING IN SOME
ROAD CLOSURES INCLUDING INTERSTATE 37. NEXT...SCATTERED RAINFALL
AMOUNTS AROUND 1/2 INCH WERE OBSERVED OVER PORTIONS OF THE BRUSH
COUNTRY ON MAY 26. FINALLY...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ON JUNE 2 BROUGHT
SCATTERED 1 TO 2 INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF
THE HSA...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 3 INCHES OBSERVED OVER
CALHOUN COUNTY.
ALL IN ALL...DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS MOST OF THE HSA SAW AT
LEAST ONE INCH OF PRECIPITATION...WITH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
COASTAL BEND AND VICTORIA AREAS RECEIVING MORE THAN 3 INCHES OF
RAINFALL. HOWEVER...NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF LA SALLE COUNTY AND
MANY AREAS NEAR THE IMMEDIATE COAST SAW RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/2
INCH OR LESS. AS A RESULT FROM ALL OF THIS PRECIPITATION...SOME OF
THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS RECEIVED SOME
RELIEF FROM THE ON-GOING DROUGHT...WHILE OTHERS SAW NO CHANGE IN
THEIR DROUGHT STATUS.
THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR...VALID AS OF 7 AM EST JUNE
4...2013...SHOWS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OVER THE HSA...
***PLEASE NOTE...THE DEFINED DROUGHT CATEGORY AREAS ARE VERY
ROUGHLY ESTIMATED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE MAP IN OUR COMPUTER
SYSTEM***
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D4) EXIST OVER AN AREA ENCLOSED
BY THE FOLLOWING LINES. D4 CONDITIONS EXIST NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST
OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR SARITA...TO EAST OF KINGSVILLE...TO
NEAR DRISCOLL...TO JUST EAST OF BLUNTZER TO NEAR SAN PATRICIO...TO
NEAR PERNITAS POINT...TO NEAR MATHIS...TO NEAR TYMAN. D4
CONDITIONS ARE THEN NEAR...WEST AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM
NEAR TYMAN...TO NEAR WEST SINTON...TO NEAR ANNAVILLE...TO NEAR
CHAPMAN RANCH...TO NEAR MALAQUITE BEACH. THE CITIES OF
ROBSTOWN...MATHIS...AND LOYOLA BEACH ARE IN D4 STATUS.
OUTSIDE OF THE D4 AREA...EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D3) EXIST
ALONG...EAST AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR THE BORDER OF
THE KLEBERG-JIM WELLS-BROOKS COUNTY LINE...WITH THE LINE
EXTENDING NORTH TO SEVERAL MILES WEST OF KINGSVILLE...TO NEAR
ALFRED...TO NEAR WESTDALE...TO NEAR LAGARTO...TO JUST SOUTH OF
MOUNT LUCAS AND DINERO...WITH THE LINE EXTENDING EAST TO JUST
SOUTH OF SKIDMORE. THE D3 AREA IS THEN LOCATED NEAR...SOUTH AND
WEST OF A LINE FROM JUST SOUTH OF SKIDMORE...TO NEAR PAPALOTE...
TO JUST EAST OF SINTON...TO NEAR CORPUS CHRISTI NORTH BEACH...WITH
THE D3 LINE GENERALLY FOLLOWING THE CORPUS CHRISTI BAY-NUECES
COUNTY LINE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THIS PUTS THE CITIES OF
CORPUS CHRISTI...SINTON...MATHIS AND KINGSVILLE IN D3 STATUS.
ANOTHER D3 AREA EXISTS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE OVER WEBB
COUNTY...GENERALLY NEAR AND WEST OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR
COLUMBIA BRIDGE...TO WEST OF LAS TIENDAS...TO NEAR RACHAL.
OUTSIDE THE D4 AND D3 AREAS...SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D2) EXIST
NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM A FEW MILES EAST OF
DILLEY...TO NEAR COTULLA...TO JUST EAST OF ENCINAL...TO NEAR
BOTINES...TO NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF LAREDO. ANOTHER D2 AREA
EXISTS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA (OUTSIDE OF THE
D3 AND D4 AREAS)...AND IS LOCATED NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
LOCATED FROM EAST OF HEBBRONVILLE...TO NEAR REALITOS...TO SEVERAL
MILES EAST OF SEVEN SISTERS...TO SEVERAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOMA
ALTA...TO NORTH OF CLEGG...TO NEAR RIVER CREEK ACRES...TO A FEW
MILES SOUTH OF BEEVILLE...TO A FEW MILES NORTH OF WOODSBORO...TO
NEAR HOLIDAY BEACH...EXTENDING EAST INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.
ANOTHER SMALL D2 AREA EXISTS OVER EXTREME NORTHERN GOLIAD COUNTY
NEAR AND NORTH OF THE COMMUNITIES OF WEESATCHE AND ANDER. A
FINAL D2 AREA IS LOCATED OVER NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF CALHOUN
COUNTY...NEAR AND EAST OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR INDIANOLA AND
MAGNOLIA BEACH EXTENDING NORTH TO THE VICTORIA-CALHOUN-JACKSON
COUNTY LINE. THE CITIES OF COTULLA AND NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF
LAREDO ARE IN D2 STATUS...ALONG WITH THE CITIES OF ALICE...
PORTLAND...ROCKPORT AND PORT LAVACA.
OUTSIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS...MODERATE DROUGHT (D1)
CONDITIONS EXIST. THE CITIES OF VICTORIA...SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS
OF LAREDO...ALONG WITH THE CITIES OF FREER...GOLIAD...BEEVILLE...
GEORGE WEST...REFUGIO AND TILDEN 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 JUNE 6
2013...BURN BANS EXIST FOR THE COUNTIES OF WEBB...DUVAL...
KLEBERG...ARANSAS...REFUGIO...LIVE OAK...AND LA SALLE. ALSO...
NUECES COUNTY HAS RE-INSTITUTED THEIR BURN BAN (NO BURN BAN WAS IN
EFFECT FOR THE PREVIOUS DROUGHT STATEMENT). 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.
WITH THE RECENT RAINFALL RECEIVED IN THE WATERSHED...STAGE 3 WATER
RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE TO BE DELAYED FOR CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENTS.
THUS...CORPUS CHRISTI OFFICIALLY REMAINS UNDER STAGE 2 WATER
RESTRICTIONS. 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.
IN FACT...ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE IN THE CALLER-TIMES
(WWW.CALLER.COM)...THE CITY COUNCIL NOW SUPPORTS A PLAN WHERE
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6
PM...REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR OR THE COMBINED SYSTEM
CAPACITY OF THE RESERVOIRS. HOWEVER...HAND-WATERING AND DRIP
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS (INCLUDING SOAKER HOSES)...ARE ALLOWED ANY
TIME. IRRIGATION WATER RUNNING INTO THE STREETS IS NOT ALLOWED NOR
PLUMBING LEAKS OR WATER FOUNTAINS THAT DO NOT RECYCLE WATER.
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. 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.
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...AND DO NOT WATER WITH SPRINKLERS
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 AM AND 6 PM.
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 JUNE 5) WHICH HAVE WATER
RESTRICTIONS:
REMOVED RESTRICTIONS: NONE
NEW/AMENDED RESTRICTIONS: KLEBERG COUNTY - KING RANCH SANTA
GERTRUDIS DISTRICT (VOLUNTARY)
PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS: CITY OF ALICE (STAGE 1 NO LONGER IN EFFECT)
BEE COUNTY: CITY OF BEEVILLE (STAGE 1)...BLUEBERRY HILLS
WATERWORKS (STAGE 2)
CALHOUN COUNTY: THE CITY OF PORT COMFORT (STAGE 1)
JIM WELLS COUNTY: ENGLISH ACRES (STAGE 3)...PAISANO MOBILE HOME
PARK (STAGE 3)
KLEBERG COUNTY: RICARDO WSC (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)...NUECES WSC
(STAGE 1)
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 JUNE 5 STILL SHOWS BELOW NORMAL SOIL CONDITIONS OVER THE
HSA...WITH ANOMALIES BETWEEN -60 MM AND -80 MM AREA-WIDE. SOIL
MOISTURE RANKING PERCENTILES ARE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT OVER
MOST OF THE HSA...WITH PERCENTILES BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PERCENT OVER
THE EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA. CROP MOISTURE INDICES
(FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 1) REMAIN SLIGHTLY DRY/FAVORABLY MOIST
(BETWEEN -0.9 AND +0.9) OVER THE EASTERN HSA...BUT EXCESSIVELY DRY
(-2.0 TO -2.9) OVER THE WESTERN HSA.
IN AN ARTICLE FOUND IN THE DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER (AND WRITTEN IN
THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)...THE 2011 DROUGHT HARSHLY STRESSED THE
TURKEY POPULATION IN TEXAS...WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM
REPRODUCING. SINCE DROUGHT CONDITIONS PERSIST IN THE STATE...
TURKEYS HAVE NOT YET RECOVERED FROM 2011 AND ARE RELATIVELY
SCARCE...ALTHOUGH REPRODUCTION WAS BETTER IN 2012.
IN AN ARTICLE FOUND IN THE DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER AND PUBLISHED
BY USA TODAY (WWW.USATODAY.COM)...BEEF PRICES ARE AT RECORD HIGHS
AS DROUGHT KEEPS FEED PRICES HIGH AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE SHRINKING
OF THE CATTLE HERD TO THE LOWEST LEVELS SINCE 1952. THE AVERAGE
PRICE OF STEAK IS $4.81 PER POUND...WHILE GROUND BEEF SELLS FOR
$3.51 PER POUND. PRICES PEAKED JUST BEFORE THE MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND WITH THE AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE OF BEEF AT $2.06 ON MAY
23...COMPARED WITH $1.94 THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE HIGH COST OF BEEF
CUTS HAS LED RESTAURANTS TO USE SECONDARY CUTS OF MEAT AND
TENDERIZE THEM TO AVOID RAISING MENU PRICES.
IN AN ARTICLE IN THE AUSTIN-AMERICAN STATESMAN (FOUND IN THE
DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER)...THE GRASS IN MANY CEMETERIES IN CORPUS
CHRISTI HAVE GONE DORMANT FROM DROUGHT. IN ROSE HILL MEMORIAL
PARK...THERE IS CRACKED DIRT AND SOME WEEDS. ONE MAN WAS TRYING
TO GET GRASS TO GROW ON HIS MOTHER`S GRAVE...WHILE ANOTHER MAN HAD
TO SOFTEN THE GROUND TO BE ABLE TO STICK SMALL AMERICAN FLAGS IN
THE GROUND ON VETERAN`S GRAVES. LIVE OAK TREES IN SEASIDE MEMORIAL
PARK HAVE DIED AND ARE SLOUGHING OFF BARK. THE NEW COASTAL BEND
STATE VETERAN`S CEMETERY DOES NOT HAVE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM
YET...SO STAFF MOVE HOSES AND SPRINKLERS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE
NEW TREES AND GRASS ALIVE.
THE TEXAS CROP AND WEATHER REPORTS FOR MAY 29 AND JUNE 4 CONTAINED
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
FOR THE COASTAL BEND DISTRICT:
- ISOLATED AREAS RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN...BUT LOW SOIL MOISTURE
LEVELS CHALLENGED FUTURE PRODUCTION AS TEMPERATURES ROSE AND
WINDS INCREASED GOING INTO SUMMER.
- CORN WAS TASSELING AND SORGHUM WAS HEADING. WHEAT WAS BEING
HARVESTED IN SOME COUNTIES.
- ALTHOUGH MUCH PLANTED COTTON HAD NOT YET EMERGED DUE TO THE DRY
CONDITIONS IN SOME AREAS...COTTON WAS IMPROVING IN OTHERS. A LOT
OF FAILED COTTON ACREAGE WAS BEING REPLANTED TO SESAME OR GRAIN
SORGHUM. SHOWERS WHICH FELL DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MAY IMPROVED
THE GROWTH OF COTTON...SORGHUM AND SOYBEANS.
- PASTURE CONDITIONS IMPROVED IN SOME AREAS...BUT WITH RISING
TEMPERATURES AND WINDS...PRODUCERS WERE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE
STOCKING RATES. SOME PRODUCERS CONTINUED TO CULL HERDS.
- SOME AREAS REPORTED 0.5 TO 0.8 INCHES OF RAIN...FILLING UP MANY
STOCK TANKS AND GIVING A GREATLY IMPROVED OUTLOOK FOR HAY AND
FORAGE.
FOR THE WESTERN AREAS (CONSIDERED PART OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT):
- AS A RESULT OF RAINFALL...NEARLY ALL COUNTIES REPORTED ADEQUATE
TO SHORT SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS. THE RAINS IMPROVED RANGELAND AND
PASTURES...FROM A LITTLE TO A LOT...DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH RAIN
WAS RECEIVED.
- CROPS GENERALLY IMPROVED OVER MOST AREAS DUE TO THE SCATTERED
SHOWERS DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
- LIVESTOCK BODY CONDITION WAS REPORTED AS FAIR IN MOST COUNTIES
AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUED SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING.
- CORN CROPS WERE AT THE SILK STAGE. HAY PRODUCERS WERE BALING
COASTAL BERMUDA GRASS.
- IN WEBB COUNTY...STOCK TANK WATER LEVELS IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF
MORE THAN 1 INCH OF RAIN. SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING OF LIVESTOCK
CONTINUED IN THAT COUNTY...AS DID THE CULLING OF HERDS.
FIRE DANGER HAZARDS.
USING THE 5 DAY AVERAGE...A MODERATE FIRE DANGER EXISTS OVER ALL
OF SOUTH TEXAS. THE FIRE DANGER CONTINUES TO DIMINISH SLIGHTLY DUE
TO RECENT RAINFALL...ABOVE NORMAL HUMIDITY...AND LIGHTER WINDS.
AS SOUTH TEXAS GETS MORE INTO A SUMMER-LIKE PATTERN...THE CHANCES
FOR CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BECOME
LOWER...AS LONG AS OCCASIONAL RAINFALL IS RECEIVED OVER THE HSA.
RECENT RAINFALL HAS HELPED TO KEEP THE COUNTY-AVERAGED KEETCH-
BYRAM DROUGHT INDICES (KBDI) IN THE MODERATE CATEGORY...RANGING
FROM 300 TO 600 AREA-WIDE. THE FOLLOWING KBDI AVERAGES WERE
OBSERVED AS OF JUNE 6:
200 TO 300: NONE
300 TO 400: DUVAL...JIM WELLS...MCMULLEN...LIVE OAK...BEE... AND
VICTORIA COUNTIES
400 TO 500: WEBB...GOLIAD AND CALHOUN COUNTIES
500 TO 600: KLEBERG...NUECES...SAN PATRICIO...ARANSAS...
REFUGIO...AND LA SALLE COUNTIES
600 TO 700: NONE.
700 TO 800: NONE.
RIVER AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS.
RECENT RAINFALL HELPED TO IMPROVE STREAMFLOW CONDITIONS TO NEAR
NORMAL LEVELS OVER SOME OF THE COASTAL CREEKS AND THE NUECES
RIVER BASIN SOUTH OF CHOKE CANYON DAM...AS WELL AS THE MISSION
RIVER. HOWEVER...RIVER LEVELS REMAIN BELOW TO WELL BELOW NORMAL
FOR THE NUECES AND FRIO RIVERS WEST OF CHOKE CANYON DAM...THE
ATASCOSA RIVER...THE GUADALUPE RIVER...AND THE NORTHEASTERN
COASTAL CREEKS. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE SAN ANTONIO AREA
BROUGHT MINOR FLOODING TO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AT GOLIAD IN LATE
MAY...WHILE HEAVY RAINFALL OVER NORTHERN LIVE OAK COUNTY BROUGHT
MINOR FLOODING THE TO NUECES RIVER AT THREE RIVERS. RISES TO NEAR
BANKFULL STAGE WERE ALSO OBSERVED ON GARCITAS CREEK...THE MISSION
RIVER...AND THE ATASCOSA RIVER. DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL...SOME
RESERVOIR RECHARGE WAS OBSERVED...MAINLY FOR LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI.
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS...RAINFALL OVER THE GUADALUPE RIVER
BASIN BROUGHT THE RIVER STAGE AT VICTORIA TO JUST ABOVE 9 FEET
(1777 CFS). HOWEVER...THE RIVER LEVELS HAVE FALLEN TO BETWEEN 5.5
FEET (424 CFS) AND 6.0 FEET (559 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.
DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL IN LATE MAY...SOME RESERVOIR RECHARGE
WAS OBSERVED FOR THE CORPUS CHRISTI WATER SUPPLY (MAINLY FOR LAKE
CORPUS CHRISTI). ALSO...HEAVY RAINFALL NORTH OF THE HSA BROUGHT A
NOTABLE RECHARGE TO CANYON DAM. AS OF JUNE 6...THE LEVEL AT CHOKE
CANYON DAM WAS AT 200.4 FEET (40.5 PERCENT CAPACITY)...WITH LAKE
CORPUS CHRISTI AT 79.7 FEET (23.0 PERCENT CAPACITY). THE COMBINED
SYSTEM CAPACITY FOR THE CORPUS CHRISTI WATER SUPPLY WAS AT 35.8
PERCENT...WHICH IS 2.2 PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN ON MAY 23.
THE LEVEL AT LAKE TEXANA FELL 0.4 FEET SINCE MAY 23...WITH THE
LATEST LEVEL AT 43.1 FEET (94.9 PERCENT CAPACITY). THE POOL LEVEL
ON COLETO CREEK ROSE 0.83 FEET SINCE MAY 23...WITH THE LATEST POOL
AT 96.85 FEET. CANYON DAM WAS AT 900.06 FEET (82 PERCENT)...OR
1.00 FEET HIGHER THAN ON MAY 23. FINALLY...THE LEVEL AT LAKE
AMISTAD WAS NOW AT 1056.27 FEET (23 PERCENT CAPACITY)...OR 0.32
FEET HIGHER THAN ON MAY 23.
CLIMATE SUMMARY...
MAY BROUGHT ABOVE TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL TO MOST OF THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA...WITH PERCENTAGES
ABOVE NORMAL WELL ABOVE 100 PERCENT OVER MOST OF WEBB...DUVAL...
AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF LIVE OAK AND BEE COUNTIES (ACCORDING TO
AHPS RAINFALL ANALYSIS). HOWEVER...MOST OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF
SOUTH TEXAS SAW BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL FOR MAY...ESPECIALLY THE
NORTHERN COASTAL COUNTIES WHERE MOST LOCATIONS SAW NO MORE THAN 25
PERCENT OF THE NORMAL RAINFALL DURING THE MONTH. FOR THE THREE
CLIMATE STATIONS IN SOUTH TEXAS...RAINFALL DURING MAY WAS 1.67
INCHES BELOW NORMAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI (1.40 INCHES OF RAIN
RECEIVED)... 3.01 INCHES BELOW NORMAL AT VICTORIA (2.18 INCHES OF
RAIN RECEIVED)...BUT 2.10 ABOVE NORMAL AT LAREDO (4.59 INCHES OF
PRECIPITATION OBSERVED). ALSO...TEMPERATURES DURING MAY AVERAGED
1.7 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI...BUT 1.6 DEGREES BELOW
NORMAL AT LAREDO AND 1.1 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AT VICTORIA.
SO FAR IN JUNE...RAINFALL HAS BEEN BELOW NORMAL FOR NEARLY ALL OF
THE HSA...WITH MOST OF THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA RECEIVING
NO PRECIPITATION FOR THE FIRST FIVE DAYS IN JUNE. ALSO...
TEMPERATURES SO FAR IN JUNE HAVE BEEN ABOVE NORMAL. THE FOLLOWING
TABLE SHOWS THE TOTAL MONTHLY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OBSERVED THROUGH
JUNE 5...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 (A "+" INDICATES A SURPLUS):
WATER YEAR
THRU JUNE 5 2013 10/1/2012 - 06/05/2013
CORPUS CHRISTI 0.41 (0.10) 5.14 (5.64) 5.95 (13.12)
VICTORIA 0.14 (0.60) 9.52 (6.60) 11.49 (14.07)
LAREDO AIRPORT 0.00 (0.34) 7.08 (0.13) 7.70 (3.91)
FOR THE THREE CLIMATE STATIONS...THE 2013 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL
RAINFALL WAS: 47.7 PERCENT AT CORPUS CHRISTI...59.1 PERCENT AT
VICTORIA...AND 98.2 PERCENT AT LAREDO. THE WATER YEAR PERCENTAGES
OF NORMAL WERE AS FOLLOWS: 45.0 PERCENT AT VICTORIA...31.2 PERCENT
AT CORPUS CHRISTI...AND 66.3 PERCENT AT LAREDO.
THE LATEST EL-NINO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) DIAGNOSTIC
DISCUSSION FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) ON JUNE 6
STATED THAT ENSO-NEUTRAL CONDITIONS CONTINUED DURING MAY...AS
REFLECTED BY THE PERSISTENCE OF NEAR-AVERAGE SEA SURFACE
TEMPERATURES (SSTS) OVER MUCH OF THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC OCEAN.
HOWEVER...BELOW AVERAGE SSTS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC STRENGTHENED.
STILL...DESPITE A TENDENCY FOR COOLER CONDITIONS...THE OVERALL
STATE OF THE TROPICAL PACIFIC WAS CONSISTENT WITH ENSO-NEUTRAL.
CPC CONTINUES TO SAY THAT ENSO-NEUTRAL CONDITIONS ARE FAVORED
THROUGH THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERIC SUMMER OF 2013 (A 60 PERCENT OR
GREATER CHANCE FOR THIS CONTINUATION). ALTHOUGH PROBABILISTIC ENSO
OUTLOOKS STILL FAVOR ENSO-NEUTRAL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE
DECEMBER-JANUARY-FEBRUARY TIME FRAME...THE CHANCES FOR EL-NINO
CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP BY THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2014 ARE LOW. IN
THE FORECAST FOR THE DECEMBER- JANUARY-FEBRUARY TIME FRAME...THERE
IS ABOUT A 44 PERCENT PROBABILITY FOR ENSO NEUTRAL
CONDITIONS...ABOUT A 23 PERCENT CHANCE FOR EL-NINO CONDITIONS...
AND ABOUT A 33 PERCENT CHANCE FOR LA NINA CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP.
PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOKS...
THERE IS A CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION STARTING TONIGHT OVER THE
NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA...THEN SPREADING SOUTH AND WEST
FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THE BEST CHANCES FOR RAINFALL WILL BE ON
FRIDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT ARE EXPECTED
TO AVERAGE BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 INCH. RAIN CHANCES WILL DIMINISH BY
SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE COASTAL AREAS SUNDAY AND MONDAY. NO
SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
CONCERNING TEMPERATURES...TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY
ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES
MOST LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS INTO
SOUTH TEXAS.
THE 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK...VALID FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 14 THROUGH JUNE
20...SHOWS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL OVER THE ENTIRE HSA.
THE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK FOR JUNE...ISSUED ON MAY 31...NOW SHOWS
EQUAL CHANCES FOR ABOVE/BELOW/NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
PRECIPITATION OVER THE ENTIRE HSA.
THE THREE-MONTH CLIMATE OUTLOOKS...VALID FOR JUNE THROUGH
AUGUST HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE LAST DROUGHT STATEMENT. THE
THREE MONTH TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK STILL CALLS FOR ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES OVER THE HSA...WITH EQUAL CHANCES FOR
NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL. THE DROUGHT OUTLOOK
PRODUCT...ISSUED JUNE 6 AND VALID THROUGH THE END OF
AUGUST...CALLS FOR DROUGHT CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE (BUT DROUGHT
CONDITIONS CONTINUING) OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES...THE VICTORIA
AREA...AND MOST OF THE NORTHERN COASTAL BEND...WITH ON- GOING
DROUGHT CONDITIONS (PERSISTING OR WORSENING) OVER THE REMAINING
WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA.
FINALLY...THE LAGGED AVERAGE SOIL MOISTURE OUTLOOK THROUGH THE
END OF SEPTEMBER 2013 FORECASTS NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL
SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS OVER THE HSA. HOPEFULLY...IMPROVED
DROUGHT CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS...
WITHOUT THE HELP OF A MAJOR HURRICANE IMPACTING THE AREA.
NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THE NEXT DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED ON OR
SHORTLY AFTER JUNE 20 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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