Texas, 2009

Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2009

April 1 to 30, 2009 · NWS CRP · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. Many locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb county experienced less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture and cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 11:33 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 11:33 PM CST, 27 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
1233 AM CDT WED APR 1 2009

.DISCUSSION...NOTE AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.

&&

.AVIATION...UPPER LEVEL CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER JET WL
PERSIST. INCREASING NEAR SFC MSTR OWING TO RTN FLOW WL CONTRIBUTE
TO LOWER LEVEL CLOUDS THIS AFTN MAINLY EAST OF US 281. YET...VFR
CONDITIONS WL DOMINATE.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 859 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009/

DISCUSSION...UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS INDICATE A 130+ KT
SUBTROPICAL JET EXTENDING FROM NRN MEXICO INTO CENTRAL TX AND EAST
TX. THIS JET WL STRENGTHEN EVEN FURTHER TNT. THE NET RESULT WL BE
TO MAINTAIN A DECENT PACIFIC TAP OF ABUNDANT HIGH CLOUDS THROUGH
AT LEAST WED MORNING. WL THUS CALL FOR MOSTLY CLOUDY CONDITIONS
FOR TNT. ALTHOUGH THE AIRMASS BELOW THIS LAYER WL BE QUITE DRY AND
COOLER THAN NORMAL...TEMPS WL BE MODERATED TO SOME DEGREE BY THE
EXTENSIVE CLOUD CVR. BASED UPON CURRENT TRENDS AND THE LATEST
GUIDANCE...THE TEMPS TNT ONLY NEEDED SOME MINOR CHANGES. WITH THE
WEAKENING GRADIENT AND CAA PATTERN OVER THE WATERS...DECIDED TO LET
THE PREVIOUS SMALL CRAFT ADVY EXPIRE AT 00Z FOR THE OFFSHORE
WATERS. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE EXPECTED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI    84  65  93  59  78  /  10  10  10   0   0
VICTORIA          80  63  86  50  78  /  10  10  10   0   0
LAREDO            91  62  92  59  86  /   0   0   0   0   0
ALICE             87  64  94  50  81  /  10  10   0   0   0
ROCKPORT          79  66  89  61  74  /  10  10  10   0   0
COTULLA           88  60  87  52  83  /   0   0   0   0   0
KINGSVILLE        86  64  94  56  81  /  10  10   0   0   0
NAVY CORPUS       80  68  89  62  76  /  10  10  10   0   0

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
     AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: ARANSAS...BEE...
     CALHOUN...DUVAL...GOLIAD...JIM WELLS...KLEBERG...LA SALLE...
     LIVE OAK...MCMULLEN...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN PATRICIO...
     VICTORIA...WEBB.

GM...NONE.

&&

WC/87...SHORT TERM
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 4:41 AM CST, 19 hours 19 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
541 AM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

TXZ229>234-239>247-011045-
LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL-
JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN-
541 AM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE
TEXAS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED THIS MORNING OVER THE COASTAL
BEND AND VICTORIA CROSSROADS REGIONS. AN ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER
DANGER IS IN EFFECT TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY THURSDAY ACROSS SOUTH
TEXAS BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WITH VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES
AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR
ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS FOR THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-011045-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT OCONNOR-
COASTAL WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 TO 60 NM-
541 AM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE
TEXAS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL WATERS THIS
AFTERNOON. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AND THURSDAY
NIGHT BEHIND A COLD FRONT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

87/76

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Aransas

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Aransas forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.015, -97.074 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Bee

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bee forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.417, -97.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Calhoun

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.439, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Duval

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Duval forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
27.681, -98.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Goliad

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Goliad forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.657, -97.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Jim Wells

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Jim Wells forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
27.731, -98.090 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Kleberg

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kleberg forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
27.427, -97.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, La Salle

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
La Salle forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.345, -99.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, McMullen

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
McMullen forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.353, -98.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Nueces

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Nueces forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
27.735, -97.516 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Refugio

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Refugio forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.322, -97.159 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, San Patricio

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
San Patricio forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.009, -97.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Victoria

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Victoria forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
28.796, -96.971 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Webb

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Webb forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
27.761, -99.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During April, drought conditions intensified further across South Texas. There was slightly beneficial rainfall that fell across Victoria, Goliad and La Salle counties, but the more significant rainfall unfortunately fell just north of the region. Almost all locations in South Texas (with the exception of isolated pockets in Victoria, Goliad, Refugio and La Salle counties) experienced less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month of April. May locations from San Patricio county, south to Kleberg county, and west to Webb County saw less than 10% normal rainfall for the month. The Corpus Christi International Airport only recorded 0.10 of rainfall, which tied for the 11th driest April on record out of 123 years.

By the end of April, exceptional drought conditions continued across Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, Calhoun, and Aransas counties. The exceptional drought conditions had expanded into Bee, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Live Oak, Jim Wells, McMullen, Duval and La Salle counties. Extreme to severe drought conditions were observed across Webb County. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

The primary impacts of the drought through March continued to be agricultural and fire related. Sporadic wildfires plagued the region with the drought-stressed fuels combining with low relative humidity and high wind days. Crops were not emerging due to lack of soil moisture, cattle were still being supplemented with hay and protein as forage was in very short supply. Even hay was become scarce, and cattle were still being sold as producers continued to reduce their herds. According to media reports, ranchers in Texas have lost over 800 million dollars since the summer of 2008 due to the drought. Effects on cattle, range and pastureland productions in South Texas may take years to recover. Periods of critical fire danger occurred through the month with sporadic wildfires.

In addition, reservoir levels continued a gradual fall. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 76% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 53% capacity by the end of the month.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 168255, 168256, 168257, 168258, 168259, 168260, 168261, 168262, 168263, 168264, 168265, 168266, 168267, 168268.