Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2012

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.

The La Nina event ended and the equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioned to ENSO neutral conditions during April according to the Climate Prediction Center. Nearly half of South Central Texas received one half inch or less of rain and the drought worsened in several counties. Frio and Kendall Counties moved back into extreme drought category (Stage D3) joining Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, and Real. Atascosa and Karnes went to severe category (Stage D2) while Bandera, Blanco, De Witt, Gillespie, Medina, and Val Verde Counties remained in this category. Ten counties still had burn bans in effect and fire danger at the end of the month was low to moderate. The Texas crop and weather report issued by Texas A and M Agricultural indicated higher than normal temperatures and windy conditions caused shallow soils to dry and crack. Winter weeds were burning up and there did not appear to be much grass left in pastures. These conditions were once again putting pressure on livestock producers to find forage for cattle. Most well managed hay pastures were cut for the first time, but yields were low and weedy and quality was poor. Some crops were starting to show signs of drought stress. Area lakes and reservoirs started to fall again, and remained well below normal pool elevations with Lake Travis around 43 feet below normal and Medina Lake 54 feet below. The seven day stream flow average over the Nueces, Lower Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins was in the below normal range and the Upper Guadalupe and Colorado basins were in the much below normal range. The Edwards Aquifer dropped during the month and was 19 feet below. The San Antonio Water System moved back into Stage 2 water restrictions while the City of Austin remained in Stage 2 and the Cities of Kerrville and San Marcos were in Stage 1.