Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 2000

The United States Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency, received a Presidential Disaster Declaration in December. This declaration was issued for the persistent drought which included the remaining 6 counties of deep south Texas, specifically, Brooks, Jim Hogg, Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Kenedy counties. Both Zapata and Starr counties received their Presidential Declarations in August of 2000. All eight counties in deep south Texas have now received Presidential Declarations because of the drought. However, dollar figures of damages were not available for the recent declaration. Total yearly rainfall for deep south Texas was below normal as moderate to severe drought conditions persisted throughout 2000. In fact, Brownsville experienced it's 8th driest year on record. The average departure from normal rainfall for deep south Texas was around 8.8 inches. Data from NWS Cooperative Observers and National Weather ASOS sites reported the following departures for the year ending December 31, 2000: Port Mansfield 12.40 inches below normal, La Joya 12.31 inches below normal, McCook 11.68 inches below normal, Raymondville 10.39 inches below normal, Mercedes 10.18 inches below normal, Brownsville 10.13 inches below normal, Rio Grande City 9.04 inches below normal, Harlingen 7.35 inches below normal, McAllen 7.61 inches below normal, Sarita 5.06 inches below normal, and Falcon Dam 7.26 inches below normal.