Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 2013

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.

December was a dry month across South Central Texas with most of the region receiving less than normal rainfall. Fortunately, this had little effect on the drought. De Witt County was the only county that changed into a worse drought category moving into severe drought (Stage D2). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Val Verde County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Lower San Antonio, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the Medina, Nueces, Lower Colorado, and Upper San Antonio River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad showed slight improvement from November, but was still near 36 feet below normal. Lake Travis continued to see improvement, but was near 53 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected lake at 88.3 feet below normal which left it at 4 percent of capacity. The Edwards Aquifer rose slightly during the month and was 27 feet below normal, and 11 feet below the level at the end of December 2012. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg remained in stage 4 water restrictions and Kerrville in stage 1.