DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
625 PM CDT THU JUL 09 2009
...DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT...
...UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES PERSIST OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
...ANOTHER 5 TO 7 DAYS WITH LITTLE OR NO RAIN...
SYNOPSIS...
STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDING HAS REMAIN VIRTUALLY LOCKED OVER THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS SINCE EARLY MAY. THE CENTER OF THE HIGH HAS SHIFTED
WEST AND THEN SHIFTED EAST BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO
SOUTHEAST TEXAS TO PROVIDE SUBSIDENCE...RECORD WARMTH AND LIMITED
RAINFALL. SOUTHEAST TEXAS DID RECEIVE VERY WELCOME RAINFALL ON
TUESDAY JULY 7TH BUT THE AMOUNTS AND DURATION WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO
END THE LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER DROUGHT. THE DROUGHT HAS BEEN
MADE MORE INTENSE BY THE UNSEASONABLY WARM (HOT) TEMPERATURES THAT
HAVE PLAGUED THE REGION. THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY HAS AVERAGED 2 TO 3
DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL ALONG THE COAST AND A MIND BLOWING 5 TO 6
DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL INLAND. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE
FIRST EIGHT DAYS OF JULY IN COLLEGE STATION WAS 89.8 DEGREES. THIS IS
0.9 DEGREES WARMER THAN THE FIRST EIGHT DAYS OF 1980. IN HOUSTON...
JULY 2009 IS AVERAGING 88.2 DEGREES WHICH IS ONLY 0.5 DEGREES COOLER
THAN THE SCORCHING HOT JULY 1980.
HOW DRY HAS IT BEEN? COLLEGE STATION HAS NOW GONE A STAGGERING 45
CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITHOUT MEASUREABLE RAIN. THIS IS THE 7TH LONGEST
STRETCH OF DAYS WITHOUT MEASUREABLE RAIN IN RECORDED HISTORY.
EARLIER THIS SUMMER HOUSTON WENT 31 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITHOUT
MEASUREABLE RAIN. BELOW IS A LIST OF THE LONGEST STRETCH OF DAYS
WITHOUT MEASUREABLE RAIN FOR COLLEGE STATION:
COLLEGE STATION
CONSECUTIVE DAYS ENDING DATE
56 08/20/1993
55 10/09/2005
51 07/25/1934
49 08/23/1948
47 11/04/1952
46 08/07/2000
45 07/08/2009 (AND COUNTING)
HERE ARE THE DRIEST MAY 1 THROUGH JULY 8 FOR OUR THREE PRIMARY
CLIMATE SITES:
MAY 1 THROUGH JULY 8 RAIN TOTALS
HOUSTON COLLEGE STATION GALVESTON
1.02 IN 1931 0.19 IN 1998 0.23 IN 2000
2.13 IN 2009 0.52 IN 1934 0.67 IN 1934
2.60 IN 1901 1.41 IN 2009 0.77 IN 2009
3.14 IN 1932 1.74 IN 1925 1.30 IN 1937
3.17 IN 1998 1.98 IN 1917 1.40 IN 1901
ALL THREE PRIMARY CLIMATE SITES ARE SUFFERING EITHER THEIR SECOND OR
THIRD DRIEST PERIOD ON RECORD.
COLLEGE STATION ONLY RECEIVED A TRACE OF RAIN IN JUNE WHICH TIED FOR
THE DRIEST JUNE IN RECORDED HISTORY. COMMUNITIES ACROSS SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THAT RECEIVED ZERO RAINFALL IN JUNE INCLUDE BELLVILLE...
BRENHAM...FREEPORT...HOUSTON BARKER...KATY...MATAGORDA...
TOMBALL AND WASHINGTON STATE PARK. ANGLETON...BAY CITY AND EDNA HAVE
YET TO RECEIVE 10 INCHES OF RAIN THIS YEAR. MAY AND JUNE ARE
TYPICALLY TWO OF THE WETTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR SO THIS EXTENDED
DROUGHT IS OF GREAT CONCERN.
BELOW IS A TABLE WITH RAINFALL AND RAINFALL DEFICITS (THROUGH JULY
8TH) FOR A FEW SITES ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS. PLEASE NOTE THE APRIL
RAINFALL COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE MONTHS.
HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT
MONTH RAIN DEP PERCENT OF NORMAL
JAN 0.49 -3.19 13.3 PERCENT
FEB 1.52 -1.46 51.0 PERCENT
MAR 4.08 +0.72 121.4 PERCENT
APR 10.38 +6.78 288.3 PERCENT
MAY 0.38 -4.77 7.5 PERCENT
JUN 0.27 -5.08 5.0 PERCENT
JUL 1.48 +0.38 134.5 PERCENT
TOTAL 18.60 -6.62 73.7 PERCENT
HOUSTON HOBBY AIRPORT
MONTH RAIN DEP PERCENT OF NORMAL
JAN 0.37 -3.88 8.7 PERCENT
FEB 1.18 -1.83 39.2 PERCENT
MAR 2.52 -0.67 70.5 PERCENT
APR 15.61 +12.15 451.1 PERCENT
MAY 0.66 -4.45 12.9 PERCENT
JUN 1.39 -5.45 20.3 PERCENT
JUL 1.20 -0.34 77.9 PERCENT
TOTAL 22.93 -4.47 83.7 PERCENT
COLLEGE STATION
MONTH RAIN DEP PERCENT OF NORMAL
JAN 0.70 -2.62 21.1 PERCENT
FEB 0.68 -1.70 28.6 PERCENT
MAR 5.07 +2.23 158.4 PERCENT
APR 6.11 +2.91 190.9 PERCENT
MAY 1.41 -3.64 27.9 PERCENT
JUN TRACE -3.79 0.0 PERCENT
JUL TRACE -0.67 0.0 PERCENT
TOTAL 13.97 -7.28 65.7 PERCENT
GALVESTON
MONTH RAIN DEP PERCENT OF NORMAL
JAN 0.34 -3.74 8.3 PERCENT
FEB 1.05 -1.56 40.2 PERCENT
MAR 3.73 +0.97 135.1 PERCENT
APR 5.23 +2.67 204.2 PERCENT
MAY 0.19 -3.51 5.1 PERCENT
JUN 0.32 -3.72 7.9 PERCENT
JUL 0.26 -0.78 25.0 PERCENT
TOTAL 11.12 -9.37 53.5 PERCENT
ANGLETON
MONTH RAIN DEP
JAN 0.25 -4.51
FEB 0.43 -4.33
MAR 1.57 -3.19
APR 3.40 -0.37
MAY 1.10 -3.66
JUN 0.62 -4.14
JUL 0.24 -0.44
TOTAL 7.61 -20.85
HERE IS SOME OF THE RAINFALL DATA FROM OUR NETWORK OF CO-OP
OBSERVERS FOR MAY AND JUNE AND THE NORMAL EXPECTED AND THE PERCENT
OF NORMAL SINCE MAY 1ST:
CITY MAY JUNE NORMAL PERCENT NORMAL
MAY/JUNE SINCE MAY 1ST
ALVIN 0.68 2.83 10.27 34.2 PERCENT
ANAHUAC 1.23 1.71 11.10 26.5 PERCENT
BAYTOWN 2.90 0.96 12.12 31.8 PERCENT
BELLVILLE 4.06 0.00 9.22 44.0 PERCENT
CALDWELL 0.73 0.00 8.49 8.6 PERCENT
CLEVELAND 4.11 0.22 11.21 38.6 PERCENT
CLODINE 0.27 0.64 10.34 8.8 PERCENT
COLUMBUS 1.96 0.10 10.78 19.1 PERCENT
CROCKETT 1.03 0.70 9.12 19.0 PERCENT
DANEVANG 0.54 0.55 9.91 11.0 PERCENT
EL CAMPO 1.76 0.32
FREEPORT 2.53 0.00 8.67 29.2 PERCENT
HOUSTON BARKER 1.65 0.00 9.45 17.5 PERCENT
HOUSTON HEIGHTS 0.65 0.50 11.86 9.7 PERCENT
HOUSTON WESTBURY 0.59 0.45 11.55 9.0 PERCENT
KATY 1.13 0.00 8.62 13.1 PERCENT
LIBERTY 2.85 1.74 12.68 36.2 PERCENT
LIVINGSTON 4.23 0.13 10.74 40.6 PERCENT
MATAGORDA 4.79 0.00 8.97 53.4 PERCENT
PIERCE 1.07 0.02 9.87 11.0 PERCENT
RICHMOND 0.11 1.14
SOMERVILLE DAM 0.77 0.29
WASH STATE PARK 1.69 0.00 8.84 19.1 PERCENT
WHARTON 0.92 0.25 9.38 12.5 PERCENT
AS OF JULY 7 2009...THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR INDICATED THAT
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONDITIONS WERE AFFECTING PARTS OF JACKSON...
BURLESON...COLORADO...MATAGORDA AND WHARTON COUNTIES. EXTREME
DROUGHT CONDITIONS WERE AFFECTING PARTS OF BRAZOS...GRIMES...
MADISON...WALLER...WASHINGTON...HARRIS AND FORT BEND COUNTIES.
SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS WERE AFFECTING PARTS OF TRINITY...
HOUSTON...WALKER...MONTGOMERY...LIBERTY...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON AND
SAN JACINTO COUNTIES. THE NEXT 5 TO 7 DAYS DON`T LOOK PROMISING FOR
RAIN SO DROUGHT CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY WORSEN.
FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION...SEE EITHER (ALL LINKS IN LOWER CASE)
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/DM_STATE.HTM?TX.S OR FOR THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY SEE...HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/MONITOR.HTML.
AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS...
THE LATEST SOIL MOISTURE ANOMALY GRAPHIC FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION
CENTER SHOWS EXCESSIVELY DRY SOIL CONDITIONS OVER ALL OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS. THE JULY 7TH TEXAS A & M TEXAS CROP AND WEATHER REPORT
INDICATED THAT CATTLE PRODUCERS WERE AGGRESSIVELY CULLING COW HERDS
AND MARKETING CALVES EARLY. THE CONDITION OF CORN AND SORGHUM
CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE. POND LEVELS CONTINUE TO DROP. FOR MORE
INFORMATION...SEE HTTP://AGNEWS.TAMU.EDU (ALL LOWER CASE).
HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS...
RECENT RAINFALL HAS HELPED TO REPLENISH LAKE LIVINGSTON AND LAKE
HOUSTON BUT DRIER CONDITIONS OVER CENTRAL TEXAS HAS ALLOWED LAKE
LEVELS TO DROP AT LAKE SOMERVILLE AND LAKE TEXANA.
WATERSHED CAPACITY
LAKE LIVINGSTON 100 PERCENT
LAKE CONROE 96 PERCENT
HOUSTON COUNTY LAKE 93 PERCENT
LAKE HOUSTON 100 PERCENT
LAKE SOMERVILLE 80 PERCENT
LAKE TEXANA 64 PERCENT
FIRE DANGER IMPACTS...
A HIGH FIRE DANGER EXISTS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS. HIGH RELATIVE
HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALLOW FOR SOME RECOVERY AT NIGHT BUT EXTREME
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES...AVERAGING 4 TO 6 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL WILL
INCREASE THE FIRE WEATHER THREAT. DRY GROUND FUELS WILL ALSO
INCREASE THE THREAT FOR WILD FIRES.
AS OF JULY 9TH...RECENT RAINS HAVE HELP TO IMPROVE THE KEETCH-BYRAM
DROUGHT INDICES OVER PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE KBDI WILL
INCREASE THIS WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURE SOAR TO NEAR 100 DEGREES AND RAIN
CHANCES DECLINE. BELOW IS A TABLE WITH KBDI VALUES (07/09/2009):
600-700 500-600 400-500
MATAGORDA WHARTON BRAZORIA GALVESTON
HARRIS WALLER MONTGOMERY FORT BEND
AUSTIN WASHINGTON COLORADO
BURLESON BRAZOS SAN JACINTO
GRIMES MADISON CHAMBERS
WALKER HOUSTON
TRINITY POLK
LIBERTY WALKER
(SEE THE LINK...ALL LOWER CASE HTTP://WEBGIS.TAMU.EDU/TFS/
KBDI_DAILY/ KBDICOUNTY.PNG).
RESTRICTIONS/ACTIONS...
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE WEB SITE ON JUNE 28 2009...
(HTTP://TFSFRP.TAMU.EDU/WILDFIRES/DECBAN.PNG)...A BURN BAN IS IN
EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
MADISON...WALKER...LIBERTY...CHAMBERS...MATAGORDA...HOUSTON...
BRAZORIA...HARRIS...AUSTIN...BRAZOS...POLK...SAN JACINTO...
WHARTON... MONTGOMERY...WALLER...AUSTIN...WASHINGTON...GRIMES...
JACKSON...TRINITY...FORT BEND...GALVESTON AND COLORADO COUNTIES.
CONDITIONS CONTINUE WILL DETERIORATE EVEN FURTHER THIS WEEKEND AND
EARLY NEXT WEEK.
WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR SOME COMMUNITIES INCLUDING
PEARLAND...THE WOODLANDS...CONROE...BAYOU VISTA...LEAGUE CITY...
SUGARLAND AND LA MARQUE.
RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT WHEN DOING ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
WHICH INVOLVE FIRE OR SPARKS...BY MAKING SURE WATER IS QUICKLY
AVAILABLE IF AN UNWANTED FIRE OR SMOLDERING BEGIN. FINALLY...
MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DISCARD LIGHTED CIGARETTES FROM THEIR VEHICLES.
OUTLOOK...
A PERSISTENT AND STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL
GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN AND REMAIN ANCHORED OVER NORTHWEST TEXAS. THIS
WILL PROVIDE UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES AND WILL SHUNT WEATHER
SYSTEMS TO THE EAST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THERE IS A SLIGHT
POSSIBILITY THAT THE RIDGE COULD SHIFT FAR ENOUGH TO THE WEST TO
ALLOW A FEW STORMS TO CLIP THE EASTERN HALF OF THE REGION THIS
WEEKEND. THE OVERALL TREND IS FOR THE HEAT TO CONTINUE AND THE
DROUGHT TO WORSEN. FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVED RAIN THIS WEEK...CONSIDER
YOURSELVES LUCKY. FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT RECEIVE RAIN...IT APPEARS
THAT ANOTHER 5 TO 7 DAYS WILL PASS WITHOUT RAIN.
THE NEXT DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT WILL BE BE ISSUED ON OR AROUND
JULY 16 2009.
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