Texas, 2012Drought in Texas, February 21 to 29, 2012
February 21 to 29, 2012 · NWS BRO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
Another round of rainfall on February 24th and 25th combined with previously high humidity and one last shot of chilly temperatures allowed additional top soil permeation to close the month. By the 21st, previously Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) conditions had improved to Severe (D2) to Extreme (D4) for most of the region, with a small pocket of Starr County dipping to Moderate (D1) for the…
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
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- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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.
Another round of rainfall on February 24th and 25th combined with previously high humidity and one last shot of chilly temperatures allowed additional top soil permeation to close the month. By the 21st, previously Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) conditions had improved to Severe (D2) to Extreme (D4) for most of the region, with a small pocket of Starr County dipping to Moderate (D1) for the first time in nearly a year.
After more than a year of well below average precipitation (save for June and December 2011), February's copious rainfall of a general 3 to 5 inches Valley-wide ranked in the top ten wettest all time, and provided much needed drought relief. Despite the rain, most areas remained in critical drought (D2 or greater) at month's end.
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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 20, 11:26 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 20, 11:26 PM CST, 34 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1126 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012
.DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.
&&
.AVIATION...PLUME OF PACIFIC MOISTURE STREAMING OVERHEAD AS THICK
CIRRUS DECK WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS WILL
HOLD TEMPS UP A COUPLE DEGREES AND SHOULD KEEP FOG FROM BECOMING
DENSE. HAVE PARED BACK FOG WORDING IN TAFS TO TEMPOS AND NO
THICKER THAN 1SM AROUND DAWN. CIGS WILL GRADUALLY LIFT THROUGH THE
MORNING AND SHOULD BE AROUND 3000 FEET JUST AFTER NOON.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 856 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012/
DISCUSSION...GUIDANCE IS BULLISH ON LOW CEILINGS AND PATCHY TO
AREAS OF FOG TONIGHT THROUGH MID TUESDAY MORNING. SCT TO BKN HIGH
CLOUDS NOT PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE. RUC IS SHOWING AMPLE LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE...COUPLED WITH CONTINUING LIGHT ONSHORE WINDS. WIDESPREAD
DENSE FOG IS NOT EXPECTED...BUT LOCAL AREAS OF DENSE FOG WILL BE
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN THE MID AND UPPER VALLEY. SAT IMAGERY
ALSO SUGGESTS LOW CLOUDS IN THE WEST GULF MOVING NORTHWEST TOWARD
THE REGION. BEEFED UP THE WORDING IN THE FORECAST AND REISSUED TO
REFLECT THE DEVELOPING SITUATION.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 523 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012/
DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.
AVIATION...FOG AND LOWER CEILINGS LOOK PRETTY CERTAIN TONIGHT
WITH WINDS BECOMING LIGHT AND INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. SCT
TO BKN HIGH CLOUDS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREVENT TEMPERATURES FROM
DECREASING TO THE CORRESPONDING DEW POINTS TONIGHT. LOCALLY DENSE
FOG LOOKS LIKELY IN THE MID AND UPPER VALLEY...BUT IFR CONDITIONS
ARE DEFINITELY ON TAP FOR THE LOWER VALLEY...DEVELOPING AFTER
MIDNIGHT WITH WORSENING CONDITIONS THROUGH DAWN TO MID TUESDAY
MORNING. NOT READY TO POUNCE ON A DENSE FOG ADVISORY JUST YET...
BUT WILL PROBABLY BEEF UP THE FOG CHARACTERIZATION SOMEWHAT IN A
LOCAL FORECAST UPDATE. THE TAFS TAKE FOG INTO ACCOUNT NOW.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 120 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012/
SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...NORTHEAST FLOW ALOFT
WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM CIRRUS CLOUDS ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
AS MID LEVEL MOISTURE OVER THE PACIFIC IS BEING PUSH INTO THE
AREA. SURFACE SOUTHEAST FLOW WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON. EXPECT WINDS TO BEGIN TO DECOUPLE AFTER SUNSET.
GOOD MOISTURE IN THE AREA AND LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL PROVIDE
GOOD CONDITIONS FOR PATCHY FOG TO DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT.
LOCATIONS FURTHER NORTH AND WEST WILL LIKELY SEE MORE DENSE FOG
THAN THE LOWER VALLEY TONIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE
MID 60S ALONG THE COAST AND LOCATIONS CLOSE TO THE BORDER WITH THE
COOLER SPOTS IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES. NO MUCH PRECIPITATION
EXPECTED UNTIL TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING AS A WEAK
DISTURBANCE WITHIN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW MOVES ACROSS THE AREA.
HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK REACHING CLOSE TO THE 80S.
ANOTHER ROUND OF WIDESPREAD FOG WILL LIKELY DEVELOP WEDNESDAY
AFTER MIDNIGHT. LIGHTER WINDS AND MORE MOISTURE IN THE AREA WILL
ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOG TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA.
LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE
MADE TO THE FORECAST IN THE LONG TERM. SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT DUE TO THE SLOW PROGRESSION OF A 500 MB
CLOSED LOW OVER THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF MEXICO. AS THE LOW FILLS AND
DRAGS A SHARP MID-LEVEL TROUGH THROUGH THE LONE STAR STATE...A WEAK
PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO
GRANDE VALLEY THURSDAY...WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
A MORE SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH OUR REGION THURSDAY
NIGHT...HOWEVER DRIER AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE WAKE OF THE PACIFIC
COLD FRONT WILL PREVENT ANY PRECIPITATION FOR THAT TIME. PLEASANT
CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WITH DRY WEATHER DUE
TO A NEARLY ZONAL FLOW IN THE MIDDLE LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE OVER
THE BRO CWFA FOR THAT PERIOD. NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL BE COOLED TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY COURTESY OF THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE THURSDAY NIGHT...
WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES ANTICIPATED FOR SUNDAY DUE TO AN ONSHORE
FLOW.
MARINE...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...SEAS AND WINDS CONDITIONS
WILL REMAIN FAIRLY GOOD ACROSS THE GULF WATERS THE REST OF TODAY
INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL DECOUPLE THIS EVENING
BECOMING LIGHT OVER THE GULF WATERS TONIGHT. LIGHT ISOLATED
SHOWERS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING AS A WEAK DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE
AREA.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...FAVORABLE MARINE CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE WINDS
AND LOW TO MODERATE SEAS EXPECTED...AS HIGH PRESSURE INITIALLY
PREVAILS...WITH THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK COLD FRONT THURSDAY EVENING.
THE PASSAGE OF A MORE SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT WILL
RAPIDLY INCREASE WINDS AND BUILD SEAS IN ITS WAKE...AND A SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FOR ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS
WILL PREVAIL FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
GULF OF MEXICO INTERACTING WITH LOWER PRESSURE OVER NORTH TEXAS.
&&
.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BROWNSVILLE
64
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 20, 12:25 PM CST, 11 hours 35 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1225 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012
TXZ248>257-211200-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-
INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
1225 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.
.DAY ONE...REMAINDER OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PATCHY FOG WILL DEVELOP DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THE FOG
MAY BECOME DENSE IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
AREAS OF FOG WILL DEVELOP LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE FOG MAY
BECOME DENSE IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS.
A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS POSSIBLE AT THE BEACHES
OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND AT BOCA CHICA BEACH THURSDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-211200-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TO THE ARROYO COLORADO-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE ARROYO COLORADO TO 5 NM NORTH OF PORT
MANSFIELD TX-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BAFFIN BAY TX-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
1225 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE
LAGUNA MADRE.
.DAY ONE...REMAINDER OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
TOMASELLI/TORRES
Drought, Brooks
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Brooks forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total February rainfall across the Brooks County ranch and hunting grounds ranged from 3 to more than 4 inches, and helped improve drought to Extreme (D3), with a sliver of Severe (D2) conditions across the southwest portion of the county by February 21st, which continued through month's end.
Drought, Kenedy
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Kenedy forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total February rainfall across the King/Kenedy Ranches ranged from 2.5 to nearly 4 inches, and helped improve drought to Extreme (D3), with a sliver of Severe (D2) conditions across the southwest portion of the county and a sliver of Exceptional remaining across the northeast tip of Kenedy County by February 21st, which continued through month's end.
Drought, Willacy
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Willacy forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total February rainfall across inland Willacy County ranged from 2.5 to nearly 4 inches, and helped improve drought to Extreme (D3), with a sliver of Severe (D2) conditions across the west third of the county by February 21st, which continued through month's end.
Drought, Cameron
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Cameron forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total February rainfall across inland Cameron County ranged from 2.5 northwest portions of more than 5 inches in/around Harlingen. The fortunate torrents helped improve drought to Severe (D2) for nearly all of inland Cameron County by February 21st, with a sliver of Extreme (D3) conditions remaining just west of the coastal areas. These conditions continued through month's end.
Drought, Hidalgo
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Hidalgo forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total February rainfall across Hidalgo County ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches, with a pocket of 4 to more than 5 inches across the northwest portion. The fortunate torrents helped improve drought to Severe (D2) for all but the northeast third of Hidalgo County (still at Extreme Drought, or D3) by February 21st, which continued through month's end.
Drought, Starr
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Starr forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Total monthly rainfall of 2.5 to more than 3 inches, except for a pocket of 4 to 5 inches in the northeast corner, improved drought further in Starr County to Severe (D2), with a pocket of Moderate (D1) across the west half of the area by the 21st. These conditions would continue until month's end.
Drought, Zapata
- When
- February 21, 12:00 AM CST to February 29, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Zapata forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 27.001, -99.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rainfall of 1 to more than 2 inches across the southern half of Zapata County brought some improvement in drought conditions. By the 21st, Extreme (D3) conditions countywide had dipped to Severe (D2) across the northwest third and southeast third, with a stripe of Extreme (D3) Drought continuing across the center of the county.
- 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.
- High Wind in Colorado, February 21 to 23, 20121 injured · 74 kt wind · 8 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Washington, February 21 to 22, 2012$16,000 · 57 kt wind · 6 events
- High Wind in Washington, February 21 to 22, 2012$15,000 · 63 kt wind · 4 events
- High Wind in Montana, February 21 to 22, 201275 kt wind · 8 events
- Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 21 to 23, 20124 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, February 21 to 23, 20123 events
- Drought in Florida, February 21 to 29, 20122 events
- High Wind in Montana, February 21 to 22, 20122 events
- Heavy Snow in Washington, February 21 to 22, 20121 event
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, February 21 to 24, 20121 event
- Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, February 21 to 22, 20121 event
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: 368286, 368287, 368288, 368289, 368290, 368291, 368292.