Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2013

Name: Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 2013
Start: 2013-04-01T00:00
End: 2013-04-30T23:59
Location: Texas

April 1 to 30, 2013 · NWS BRO · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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: 10

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 BRO wrote it up.

Persistent long term dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to worsen across Deep South Texas and the RGV. A couple of frontal passages moved through the area during the first part of the month and triggered a few isolated showers and thunderstorms, mainly over Starr and Zapata counties and along Willacy county. However, any rainfall that fell was not significant enough to affect the drought conditions. Drought conditions continued to deteriorate across the region, with exceptional (D4) drought conditions affecting nearly all of the region, with the exception of the extreme southeast section of Cameron County.

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 Mar 31, 11:18 PM CST, 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 11:18 PM CST, 42 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1218 AM CDT MON APR 1 2013

.DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.

&&

.AVIATION...EXPECTING IFR CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA IN
THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO. CIGS MAY HOLD IN THE 1200 FT RANGE FOR A BIT
BUT WILL LIKELY DROP TO ABOUT 800FT. WITH ONSHORE FLOW THE COASTAL
COUNTY AIRPORTS MAY TEMPORARILY DROP TO LIFR. IFR TO LIFR
CONDITIONS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AT THE NON TAF SITES AS WELL BY 1 TO
3 AM. A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT BUT SHOULD BE NON
OPERATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT. AN IMPROVEMENT THROUGH MID MORNING TO
VFR IS EXPECTED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MIDDLE AND HIGH CLOUDS BY THIS
AFTERNOON. GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS SHOULD BUILD IN AROUND NOONTIME
LASTING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS IN THE 18 TO 23KT RANGE.

LOWERING CIGS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN MONDAY EVENING WITH LOW MVFR
FORECAST AND IFR POSSIBLE. /68-JGG/

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1014 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/

DISCUSSION...WITH THE NOCTURNAL TEMPERATURE INVERSION QUICKLY
INCREASING CAPPING AND THE VIGOROUS SUPERCELL WHICH PRODUCED
SEVERAL REPORTS OF GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL IN FALFURRIAS DISSIPATED
THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT HAS DIMINISHED ACROSS THE CWA. HAVE
COORDINATED WITH SPC TO CANCEL THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NUMBER 77 AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO. WILL ALSO BE
TRIMMING BACK POPS A BIT OVERNIGHT. REMAINDER OF THE GRIDS IN GOOD
SHAPE. /68-JGG/

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 844 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/

DISCUSSION...ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO
MOVE SOUTHEAST ALONG THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY AT THIS TIME.
THIS THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY IMPACT PORTION OF BROOKS
AND KENEDY COUNTIES AS THEY MOVE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST. MAKE
CHANGES TO THE POPS EXPECTED BUT EVERYTHING ELSE STAYED
THE SAME. PLEASE RELATE TO THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER
STATEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 647 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/

DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.

AVIATION...BREEZE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY
EVENING DIMINISHING TONIGHT WITH CLOUD COVER INCREASING ACROSS
SOUTH TEXAS. EXPECT MVFR CEILINGS TO BEGIN DEVELOPING AROUND
MIDNIGHT WITH POSSIBLE IFR CLOSE TO SUNRISE MONDAY. CONDITIONS
WILL IMPROVE AROUND 15Z WITH BREEZE SOUTHEAST WINDS IN THE
AFTERNOON. MOISTURE STREAMING ACROSS MEXICO INTO SOUTH TEXAS WILL
INCREMENT TOMORROW INCREASING THE HIGH CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 215 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/

SHORT TERM.../NOW THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...WEAK MID LEVEL RIDGING
OVER NEW MEXICO WILL BECOME ZONAL ON MONDAY AS 500 MB LOW MOVES
ACROSS THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER
THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL MAINTAIN THE ONSHORE FLOW ACROSS
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG A
COLD FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON. SPC HAS PLACED A
GENERAL TO SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS JUST NORTH OF THE
AREA. THIS CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE OR MOVE EAST BEFORE
REACHING THE BRO CWA. MODERATE TO BREEZY SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL
DIMINISH THIS THIS EVENING. LOW CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE
TONIGHT AND WITH AREAS OF FOG DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT. LOW
TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. MOSTLY CLOUDY MONDAY
MORNING WITH SKIES BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY BY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL
BE SLIGHTLY WEAKER WINDS THAN TODAY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES BACK
INTO THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S AGAIN. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL
BE JUST A DEGREE OR TWO COOLER.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY  THROUGH SUNDAY/...AS WE HEAD INTO THE LONG
TERM MAIN FEATURE OF INTEREST WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE UPPER
LOW/TROUGH SPINNING OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. MEAN MID TO UPPER
FLOW OVER NORTH AMERICA IS TRANSITIONING INTO A SLOW BUT
PROGRESSIVE SPLIT FLOW PATTERN. THE UPPER TROUGH TO TRACK SOUTH
OF A LARGE SCALE RIDGE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST
CANADA SLOWLY WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES TUESDAY
THEN SLOWING DOWN FURTHER AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
WEDNESDAY AND HEADS INTO GULF SOUTH THURSDAY. AS FOR THE MUCH
ADVERTISED FRONT THE SLOWER THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER
LOW THE SLOWER THE FRONT MOVES SOUTH. GFS AND ECMWF MODELS STILL
INDICATE A LATE WEDNESDAY OR WEDNESDAY EVENING PASSAGE SOUTH OF
BROWNSVILLE WITH THE NAM STILL MUCH FASTER. GENERAL TREND OF THE
PREVIOUS FORECAST TO REMAIN UNCHANGED THIS PACKAGE.

AFFECTS ON OUR CWA FROM THIS SYSTEM COULD COME AS EARLY AS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON WITH A MORE ROBUST SOUTHERN JET COMING INTO PLAY. WITH
DISTURBANCES WITHIN THE SOUTHERN JET TRACKING ACROSS NORTHERN MEXICO
AND SOUTH TEXAS ATMOSPHERE BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE WITH
MOISTURE ADVECTION INCREASING AS WELL. PWAT VALUES ARE BECOMING MORE
SUMMER LIKE AND AS A SERIES OF JET MAXES ROTATE THROUGH THE REGION
IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIN TROUGH THUNDERSTORM CHANCES INCREASE. TIMING
AND EXACT PLACEMENT OF BEST POPS IS STILL UNCERTAIN SO WILL CONTINUE
WITH PREVIOUS FORECASTERS POP PLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. THE NORTHERN
ZONES ARE HIGHLIGHTED FOR TUESDAY THEN AS THE UPPER TROUGH AND
SURFACE FRONT BEARS DOWN ON THE CWA RAIN CHANCES INCREASE ALL
AREAS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS BETTER OVERALL ASCENT TAKES
PLACE. AS FOR RAINFALL AMOUNTS HPC QFP 5 DAY TOTALS...WHICH MOST
LIKELY WILL FALL LATER TUESDAY THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY...CONTINUE
TO RANGE FROM 0.25 TO .75 INCHES. NO REASON TO DEVIATE MUCH FROM
THIS WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE EVEN SOME ISOLATED
HIGHER AMOUNTS. AT THIS POINT IN OUR PROLONG DROUGHT WE WILL TAKE
ANYTHING WE CAN GET.

TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN WARM TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH NO SUBSTANTIAL
COOLING UNTIL THE FRONT PASSES. COOLEST DAY CONTINUES TO LEAN
TOWARDS THURSDAY BUT AS THE UPPER TROUGH EXITS TO THE EAST DRIER
AIR AND A QUICKLY MODIFYING AIRMASS MAY ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURES TO
REMAIN CLOSER TO WARMER GUIDANCE VALUES.

A RETURN TO MORE BENIGN WEATHER BY FRIDAY AND NEXT WEEKEND AS AN
UPPER RIDGE REPLACES THE TROUGH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS RETURN.
TEMPERATURES TO WARM AND MOISTURE TO GRADUAL INCREASE AS WE HEAD
WELL INTO APRIL.

MARINE...NOW THROUGH MONDAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE EAST WHILE A WEAK FRONT WILL APPROACH
THE NORTHWEST GULF TONIGHT. CURRENT TCOON OBSERVATIONS ALONG THE
LAGUNA MADRE INDICATE WINDS OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS DUE TO THE INCREASE
IN THE LOCAL PRESSURE GRADIENT. WILL MAINTAIN EXERCISE CAUTION
CONDITIONS ON THE LAGUNA MADRE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING
THEN...WINDS WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET THIS EVENING. BUOY 42020
REPORTS SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS WITH SEAS AROUND 3 FEET
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. MODERATE SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW TO MODERATE
SEAS TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...MODERATE ON SHORE WINDS AND SEAS TO
CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. WINDS THEN WEAKEN WEDNESDAY
PRIOR TO A COLD FRONT FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON AND INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. NORTH WINDS TO GRADUALLY
INCREASE THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTH. SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL BE NECESSARY THE LATE WEDNESDAY
THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS TO
DEVELOP FRIDAY AND OVER THE WEEKEND AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS EAST
AND UPPER RIDGE BUILDS ACROSS TEXAS WITH ONSHORE SOUTHEAST FLOW
TO RESUME.

&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV

68/60

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 9:55 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1055 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

TXZ248-249-252-011100-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-STARR-
1055 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-011100-
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-
1055 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE
LAGUNA MADRE.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
OVER THE LAGUNA MADRE AND THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS THROUGHOUT
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS PRODUCING BRIEF GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE COASTAL WATERS LATE ON
WEDNESDAY...ACCOMPANIED BY A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. STRONG
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND HIGH SEAS WILL DEVELOP IN THE WAKE
OF THE FRONT...WITH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS LIKELY FROM
LATE WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

TXZ250-251-253>257-011100-
BROOKS-KENEDY-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-INLAND CAMERON-
COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
1055 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT.

NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OUTLOOK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 7:37 PM CST, 4 hours 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
837 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

TXZ250-251-010300-
BROOKS-KENEDY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FALFURRIAS...SARITA
837 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN BROWNSVILLE IS TRACKING
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER DUVAL AND JIM WELLS COUNTY...ABOUT 33
MILES NORTHWEST OF FALFURRIAS...AND 48 MILES NORTHWEST OF SARITA.
MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS IS TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT AROUND
35 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING HAIL THE SIZE OF
BASEBALLS...AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS MAY BE ISSUED FOR
BROOKS OR KENEDY COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. RESIDENTS OF THESE
COUNTIES ARE URGED TO MONITOR THIS DANGEROUS DEVELOPING WEATHER
SITUATION...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER SHOULD WARNINGS BE
ISSUED FOR THEIR AREA.

TOMASELLI

Local storm report, Mar 31, 8:41 PM CST, 3 hours 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
941 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0941 PM     HAIL             FALFURRIAS              27.22N  98.14W
03/31/2013  E1.25 INCH       BROOKS             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL

&&

EVENT NUMBER BRO1300005

JGG

Local storm report, Mar 31, 8:48 PM CST, 3 hours 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
948 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0946 PM     HAIL             FALFURRIAS              27.22N  98.14W
03/31/2013  M1.75 INCH       BROOKS             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            PEA TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY KPSO RADAR IN
            FALFURRRIAS.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BRO1300006

TS

Local storm report, Mar 31, 8:53 PM CST, 3 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
953 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     HAIL             FALFURRIAS              27.22N  98.14W
03/31/2013  M1.75 INCH       BROOKS             TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BRO1300007

MT

Local storm report, Mar 31, 9:25 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1025 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     HAIL             FALFURRIAS              27.22N  98.14W
03/31/2013  M1.75 INCH       BROOKS             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED FIRE. WIDESPREAD HAIL TO
            GOLFBALL SIZE. WINDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BRO1300008

JGG

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Starr

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Starr forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Overall dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to persist across Starr County. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms allowed for some rainfall across the county, but it was not enough to improve drought conditions. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued to engulf the entire county.

Drought, Cameron

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 29, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Overall dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to persist across Cameron County. Very little rain fell across the county during much of the month. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions spread further east across the county, encompassing all of the county, except for the southeast corner by the 16th of the month.

Drought, Brooks

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 29, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Overall dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to persist across Brooks County. Very little rain fell across the county during much of the month. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued to engulf the entire county.

Drought, Kenedy

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kenedy forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A general lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed for drought conditions to intensify across Kenedy County. By the 16th of the month, all of the county was entrenched in exceptional (D4) drought conditions.

Drought, Coastal Willacy

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Coastal Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

A general lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed for drought conditions to intensify across coastal Willacy County. By the 16th of the month, all of coastal Willacy county was entrenched in exceptional (D4) drought conditions.

Drought, Coastal Cameron

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Coastal Cameron forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

A general lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed for drought conditions to intensify across coastal Cameron County. By the 16th of the month, exceptional (D4) drought conditions had spread across the northern half of coastal Cameron county, while the southern half remained in extreme (D3) drought conditions.

Drought, Jim Hogg

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 29, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jim Hogg forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 27.043, -98.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A general lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed for drought conditions to intensify across Jim Hogg County. By the 16th of the month, exceptional (D4) drought conditions had spread across the entire county.

Drought, Willacy

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 29, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Willacy forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A general lack of rain and warm temperatures allowed for drought conditions to intensify across Willacy County. By the 16th of the month, exceptional (D4) drought conditions had spread across the entire county.

Drought, Zapata

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 29, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Zapata forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 27.001, -99.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Overall dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to persist across Zapata County. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms allowed for some rainfall across the county, but it was not enough to improve drought conditions. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued to engulf the entire county by the 16th.

Drought, Hidalgo

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Overall dry conditions and above normal temperatures allowed for drought conditions to persist across Hidalgo County. Very little rain fell across the county during much of the month. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued to encompass the entirety of the county.

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

Every storm in Texas in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, April 2013

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: 446637, 446640, 446641, 446648, 446649, 446651, 446654, 446655, 446656, 446660.