Texas, 2015

Drought in Texas, January 1 to 31, 2015

January 1 to 31, 2015 · NWS EWX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category.

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
8

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 EWX wrote it up.

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 11:50 PM CST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 11:50 PM CST, 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1150 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

.AVIATION...
/06Z TAFS/
REGIONAL RADARS ARE SHOWING AN INCREASE ON RAINSHOWER ACTIVITY
ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS AND TO THE NORTH OF BURNET AND LLANO
COUNTIES. THIS IS IN RESPONSE OF MINOR SHORTWAVE PULSES ALOFT
ARRIVING FROM THE SOUTHWEST. CIGS WILL LOWER TO MVFR CATEGORY
WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS ALONG THE I-35 TERMINALS AS THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE MOISTENS A BIT. -DZ/-RA IS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT
CONTINUING THROUGH THURS. STRATUS WILL REMAIN AROUND 1KFT TO 2FKT
THROUGH 14Z THURS WITH CIGS LOWERING TO IFR CATEGORY THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT THURSDAY...CIGS ARE
FORECASTED TO LOWER TO LIFR ACROSS AREA TERMINALS WITH LIGHT
DRIZZLE/RAIN PREVAILING THROUGH FRIDAY. NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS
ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE I-35 CORRIDOR THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH
SOUTHERLY FLOW PREVAILING AT KDRT THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECAST
CYCLE.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1001 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014/

UPDATE...NO LARGE CHANGES ON THIS UPDATE WITH JUST FINE TUNING
OF WEATHER AND TEMPERATURE GRIDS FOR THE OVERNIGHT TO PINPOINT
GREATEST IMPACTS. AN INCREASE OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS WAS MADE BY A
FEW HUNDREDTHS OVER VAL VERDE...EDWARDS...KERR AND AREAS JUST
SOUTH INTO NORTHERN UVALDE AND KINNEY COUNTIES PER PUBLIC AND
SPOTTER REPORTS OF ICE STARTING TO ACCUMULATE AND CAUSE DANGEROUS
TRAVEL. PLEASE SEE UPDATED DISCUSSION BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON
THE FREEZING RAIN EVOLUTION OVERNIGHT.

DISCUSSION...ICING OF ROADWAYS AND WALKING PATHS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN
KERR...BANDERA...EDWARDS...UVALDE AND VAL VERDE COUNTIES AS RADARS
CONTINUE TO SHOW LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE STREAMING OVER THE REGION.
EXPECT THESE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE AS ISENTROPIC LIFT IN THE
285-295K THETA SURFACES CONTINUES PER NWP SUITE OUTPUT. MUCH LOWER
CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS ARE NOTED ACROSS WESTERN AREAS VS.
EASTERN ZONES WHERE SLIGHTLY DRIER EASTERLY FLOW IS OCCURRING.
FEEL THIS...ALONG WITH SURFACE TEMPERATURE EVOLUTION...WILL PLAY
A KEY ROLE IN WHERE PRECIPITATION (BOTH FROZEN AND LIQUID FORMS)
CAN REACH THE GROUND NOW THROUGH 10AM THURSDAY.

THE FREEZING LINE IS CURRENTLY ALONG AND TO THE NORTH OF A COMSTOCK
TO UTOPIA TO BLANCO AND LLANO LINE ACROSS THE WEST AND NORTHWEST HILL
COUNTRY. EXPECT LITTLE OVERALL MOVEMENT OF THE FREEZING LINE BUT
SOME SLIGHT SOUTH AND EASTWARD PROGRESSION COULD OCCUR THROUGH
6-8AM DUE TO WET-BULBING EFFECTS. METRO SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN
ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN ABOVE FREEZING WITH ANY PRECIPITATION BEING
ALL LIQUID. HRRR/RAP GUIDANCE SUGGEST ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION
BANDS TO MOVE FROM THE SW TO NE OVER TOP OF THE FREEZING LINE
OVERNIGHT THROUGH 10 AM TOMORROW MORNING. MAIN CONCERNS CONTINUE
TO BE WHERE THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT WITH GREATEST
ICE ACCUMULATION UP TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH BEING POSSIBLE.
NORTHERN VAL VERDE...EDWARDS...INTO KERR AND NORTH TOWARDS
GILLESPIE AND LLANO COUNTIES WILL HAVE GREAT CHANCE OF RECEIVING
SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS PER LATEST SPC SSEO OUTPUT AND 21Z
SREF GUIDANCE. DUE TO THE LOWER CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS FOR
EASTERN AREAS, PRECIP OF ANY FORM HERE WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO
COME BY. FEEL OVERALL RISK OF ANY ICE ACCUMULATION IN WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY COUNTIES NORTH AND EAST OF COMAL COUNTY HAS
DECREASED. HAVE SLIGHTLY TUNED WEATHER GRIDS TO FOLLOW SUIT BY
CUTTING FREEZING RAIN BACK A LITTLE FURTHER WEST. FEEL BULK OF
THE OVERALL HEAVIER ICE ACCUMULATIONS WITH THIS EVENT WILL OCCUR
CLOSER TO SAN ANGELO AND ABILENE WITH THE ESCARPMENT JUST ON THE
SE PERIPHERY GIVEN HI-RES GUIDANCE.

TEMPERATURES WILL WARM SLOWLY THROUGH 6-8AM AND ENDING THE FREEZING
RAIN THREAT FOR PORTIONS OF THE ADVISORY AREAS. BY 10-11AM...ALL
AREAS SHOULD BE ABOVE FREEZING WITH ANY PRECIPITATION FALLING AS
RAIN AND THUS MELTING ANY ICE THAT DID ACCRETE. IMPACTS SHOULD
RAPIDLY DISSIPATE BY NOON TOMORROW. /ALLEN/

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 556 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014/

AVIATION...
/00Z TAFS/
WITH A DEWPOINT DEP RANGING FROM 8 TO 10 DEGREES (F) AND SOME
BREAKS IN THE CLOUD COVERAGE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS AT LEAST THROUGH
MIDNIGHT/06Z AT KAUS. MVFR CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN AROUND 06Z AND
LAST THROUGH MID AFTERNOON THURS. FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AREA
AIRPORTS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO REACH THAT AREA
EARLIER WITH MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT OR AFTER 02Z/03Z THURS.
ACROSS KDRT...IFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR THE NEXT 11-12 HRS
BEFORE LIFR CONDITIONS ARRIVE FOR A WINDOW OF 3 TO 4 HOURS(12Z TO
16Z THURS). LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE IS FORECASTED TO AFFECT ALL AREA
TERMINALS TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. ALTERNATIVE/MUNICIPAL
AIRPORTS ACROSS THE EDWARDS PLATEAU AND HILL COUNTRY ARE EXPECTED
TO OBSERVE WINTER MIX TYPE PRECIPITATION LATE THIS EVENING INTO
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS CONTINUING THROUGH THURS MORNING. BY MID
THURSDAY MORNING TEMPS SHOULD BE ABOVE FREEZING WITH POSSIBLY COLD
RAIN/DRIZZLE ACROSS ALL SITES DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
HOURS. NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE I-35
CORRIDOR THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW PREVAILING AT KDRT
THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECAST CYCLE.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 314 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014/

SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...
SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME FINE TUNING SPECIFICS WITH THE
POTENTIAL FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET EVENT FOR THE HILL COUNTRY AND
SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU. THE BIG FORECAST QUANDARIES ARE THE
POTENTIAL FOR LOCATIONS OFF THE PLATEAU TO REACH 32 OR
BELOW...WHETHER THE OVERRUNNING PATTERN WILL BE ENOUGH TO
PRECIPITATE DOWN TO THE SURFACE EAST OF THE PLATEAU...AND IF
SO...WHAT KIND OF ACCUMULATION AMOUNTS WOULD IT RESULT IN.

AS FAR AS THE FREEZING TEMPS GO...JUST ABOUT EVERY HI RES MODEL
SHOWS THE FREEZING LINE NOT BUDGING OVER THE NEXT 18 HOURS. IN
FACT...SOME RUNS SHOWED THE LINE TO RETROGRADE NORTH A BIT. THAT
BEING SAID...DRIER NEAR SURFACE CONDITIONS AND COLD AIR DRAINAGE
OFF THE PLATEAU...ESPECIALLY IF WET BULB EFFECTS TAKE PLACE AS
PRECIP INTENSIFIES...COULD DECREASE TEMPERATURES BELOW WHAT
MODELS WOULD SUGGEST EAST OF THE CURRENT LINE...ENCAPSULATING THE
WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE I35 CORRIDOR COUNTIES AND THE SOUTHERN
PERIPHERY OF THE EDWARDS PLATEAU. DID OUR BEST TO CAPTURE THAT
POTENTIAL IN THE HOURLY T TRENDS AND HAVE IT JIVE WITH THE
POSSIBILITY FOR LIGHT ACCUMS IN THESE PLACES AS WELL.

THE PRECIPITATION POTENTIAL IS QUESTION 2. WHILE AN OVERRUNNING
PATTERN RESULTED IN THIS MORNINGS FREEZING DRIZZLE AND LIGHT RAIN
ON THE PLATEAU...AREAS OFF THE ESCARPMENT WERE RELATIVELY
DRY...LIKELY DUE TO THE DRIER LOW LEVEL ATMOSPHERE IN PLACE.
LATEST MODELS ARE INDICATING THAT THE LOW LEVEL ATMOSPHERE MAY
CONTINUE TO DRY EAST OF THE PLATEAU WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE
POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION TO REACH THE GROUND UNTIL 09Z OR
LATER. AT THE SAME TIME...THE UPPER LEVEL ENHANCEMENT TO THE
NORTHWEST WILL BE TAKING PLACE AND THE SOUTHERN EXTENT OF THIS
PRECIPITATION DEVELOPMENT IS CURRENTLY LOOKING TO EXTEND INTO VAL
VERDE COUNTY AND THEN NORTHERN HALF OF EDWARDS BY 12Z. EXPANSION
OF THAT PRECIP FARTHER SOUTH IS POSSIBLE...AND WITH LATEST
SATELLITE AND RADAR TRENDS...THAT WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED CLOSELY.
BUT MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THIS AREA OF ENHANCEMENT SHOULD
STAY FAR ENOUGH NORTH TO LIMIT IMPACT POTENTIAL BEYOND OUR CURRENT
WARNING AREA.

AND LASTLY...ACCUMULATIONS. THE OVERALL ACCUMULATION FORECAST HAS
STAYED RELATIVELY SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FORECASTS AS NOTHING HEAVY
IS EXPECTED DURING OUR COLD PERIOD. STILL THINKING THAT LIGHT
FREEZING RAIN AND DRIZZLE COULD RESULT IN MAX ICE ACCUMS OF LESS
THAN .20 INCHES AND THE UPPER END OF THAT FORECAST WOULD BE
CONFINED TO AREAS WELL UP ON THE PLATEAU. DUE TO THE
AFOREMENTIONED UNCERTAINTIES IN THE PRECIP POTENTIAL IN THE
NORTHEAST INCLUDING THE I35 CORRIDOR IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY...ADDED
MINIMAL ICE ACCUMS FOR THIS AREA AND EXTENDED THIS AREA TO INCLUDE
THE SLOPE OF THE ESCARPMENT IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE I35
CORRIDOR COUNTIES.

WHILE PRECIPITATION POTENTIAL WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY
TOMORROW...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING BY MID
MORNING AND BECOME AN ALL RAIN EVEN BY THAT TIME. WHATEVER WINTRY
CONDITIONS RESULTED FROM THE MORNING HOURS...SHOULD QUICKLY
IMPROVE AS THIS TRANSITION RETURNS TO LIQUID.

LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...
THE RAINFALL CHANCES WILL EXTEND THROUGH SATURDAY AS THIS UPPER
LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SLOWLY TRANSLATES EASTWARD ACROSS THE
STATE. IT APPEARS THAT MULTIPLE WAVES OF LIGHT TO MODERATE
RAIN ARE POSSIBLE...MOSTLY IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE
CWA...THROUGH SATURDAY. BY SATURDAY NIGHT...THE RAIN SHOULD BEGIN
TAPERING OFF FROM THE WEST AND A MUCH DRIER PATTERN WILL BE
RETURNING FOR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

THE COLDEST DAY OF THE NEXT 7 LOOKS TO BE MONDAY MORNING AS
ANOTHER DRY COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE AREA. LOWS CURRENTLY ARE
PROGGED TO FALL INTO THE MID 20S AND POSSIBLY LOWER FOR THE
NORTHERN COUNTIES AND FREEZING ELSEWHERE. WILL KEEP AN EYE ON
FREEZE POTENTIAL AS TIME PASSES.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AUSTIN CAMP MABRY              35  39  38  42  40 /  50  70  80  70  60
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT  34  39  37  43  39 /  40  60  80  70  60
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT     35  40  38  43  40 /  40  60  80  70  60
BURNET MUNI AIRPORT            31  37  35  41  36 /  70  70  80  70  60
DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT           32  43  41  47  40 /  70  30  50  30  40
GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT        32  38  36  41  38 /  50  70  80  70  60
HONDO MUNI AIRPORT             34  42  39  45  38 /  40  50  70  50  60
SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT        35  39  38  43  40 /  40  60  80  70  60
LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL   37  42  40  45  42 /  30  60  70  70  70
SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT       35  41  39  43  41 /  40  60  80  60  60
STINSON MUNI AIRPORT           36  41  40  44  41 /  40  60  70  60  60

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: BEXAR...COMAL...HAYS...KINNEY...MEDINA...TRAVIS...
UVALDE...WILLIAMSON.

WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: BANDERA...BLANCO...BURNET...EDWARDS...GILLESPIE...
KENDALL...KERR...LLANO...REAL...VAL VERDE.

&&

MESOSCALE/AVIATION...17
SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...15
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 31, 8:55 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
855 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

TXZ171-172-183>190-011200-
LLANO-BURNET-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA-GILLESPIE-
KENDALL-BLANCO-
855 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM THURSDAY.

COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SETTLE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU AND HILL COUNTRY. WINTRY
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT SIGNIFICANT ICE
ACCUMULATIONS WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS EVENING INTO MID MORNING
THURSDAY ALONG AND NORTH OF A COMSTOCK TO BOERNE TO BURNET LINE.
MOST ICE ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE LESS THAN ONE TENTH OF AN INCH.
HOWEVER...ANY AREAS OF SLEET MIXED IN WITH THE FREEZING RAIN COULD
PRODUCE LOCALLY HIGHER ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND TWO TENTHS OF AN
INCH. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON THURSDAY.
THESE ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL BRING HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS TO
THE SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU AND HILL COUNTRY TONIGHT AND THURSDAY
MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOON ON THURSDAY FOR
THE SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU AND HILL COUNTRY. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE MENTIONED
AREAS. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT THROUGH
NOON THURSDAY ALONG THE ESCARPMENT AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 35 AND
OUTSIDE OF THE AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN AREAS.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING BY MID DAY
THURSDAY. RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY WITH
RAIN TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY. SUNDAY SHOULD BE NICE
AND COOL WHILE ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA WITH LOWS
IN THE 20S IN MOST AREA MONDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

PLEASE...REPORT ANY ICE ACCUMULATIONS.

TXZ173-191-192-202>206-011200-
WILLIAMSON-HAYS-TRAVIS-KINNEY-UVALDE-MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-
855 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
THROUGH 12 PM THURSDAY.

COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SETTLE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
THIS EVENING. AREAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EDWARDS PLATEAU MAY
SEE MINOR ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE AND SLEET. THIS WOULD RESULT IN
SOME SLICK SPOTS ON ROADS ALONG THE SLOPE OF THE PLATEAU. FARTHER
EAST...INCLUDING METRO AREAS ALONG THE I35 CORRIDOR...ARE EXPECTED
TO SEE A COLD...BUT ALL LIQUID RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOON ON THURSDAY.
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED AREAS.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING BY MID DAY
THURSDAY. RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY WITH
RAIN TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY. SUNDAY SHOULD BE NICE
AND COOL WHILE ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA WITH LOWS
IN THE 20S IN MOST AREA MONDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

PLEASE...REPORT ANY ICE ACCUMULATIONS.

TXZ193-194-207>209-217>225-228-011200-
BASTROP-LEE-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA-FRIO-
ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT-
855 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL SETTLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS EVENING
WITH NORTH WINDS AND LIGHT COLD RAIN OR DRIZZLE.
CURRENTLY...FREEZING TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THE HILL
COUNTRY AND EDWARDS PLATEAU...WITH ONLY DAMP ROADWAYS EXPECTED ALONG
AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 35 AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90. NO WINTER WEATHER
IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED FOR THIS AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 31, 7:42 PM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
742 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

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

0715 PM     FREEZING DRIZZLE 5 SSE CAMP WOOD         29.60N  99.98W
12/31/2014                   UVALDE             TX   COCORAHS

            ICE ACCUMULATING ON ELEVATED SURFACES DUE TO FREEZING
            DRIZZLE

&&

EVENT NUMBER EWX1400747

CVP
Local storm report, Dec 31, 7:46 PM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
746 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

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

0700 PM     FREEZING RAIN    3 W HUNT                30.06N  99.39W
12/31/2014  U0.00 INCH       KERR               TX   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            ICE ACCUMULATING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES ON FM1340

&&

EVENT NUMBER EWX1400748

CVP
Local storm report, Dec 31, 8:50 PM CST, 3 hours 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
850 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

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

0810 PM     FREEZING RAIN    2 S CAMP VERDE          29.85N  99.10W
12/31/2014  U0.00 INCH       BANDERA            TX   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            ICY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES ON SH 173 BETWEEN KERRVILLE
            AND BANDERA.

&&

EVENT NUMBER EWX1400749

CVP
Local storm report, Dec 31, 8:52 PM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
852 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

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

0837 PM     FREEZING DRIZZLE UTOPIA                  29.62N  99.53W
12/31/2014                   UVALDE             TX   PUBLIC

            FREEZING DRIZZLE CAUSING ICE ACCUMULATION ON ELEVATED
            SURFACE

&&

EVENT NUMBER EWX1400750

CVP
Local storm report, Dec 31, 9:08 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
908 PM CST WED DEC 31 2014

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

0807 PM     FREEZING DRIZZLE LEAKEY                  29.72N  99.76W
12/31/2014                   REAL               TX   PUBLIC

            LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ON PARKED VEHICLES.

&&

EVENT NUMBER EWX1400751

CVP

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Bandera

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bandera forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.747, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, De Witt

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
De Witt forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.082, -97.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Edwards

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Edwards forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.983, -100.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Gillespie

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Gillespie forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
30.318, -98.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Kendall

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kendall forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.945, -98.712 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Kerr

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kerr forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
30.062, -99.350 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Medina

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Medina forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.356, -99.110 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

Drought, Val Verde

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Val Verde forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
29.893, -101.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

January was generally a wet month across South Central Texas with most areas getting normal or above rain. No county moved into a worse drought category. Medina County stayed in Extreme Drought category (Stage D3) and Bandera, De Witt, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Val Verde remained in Severe Drought category (Stage D2). Fire danger was low across the area at the end of the month and of the counties in D2 or worse drought only De Witt, Medina, and Val Verde had burn bans remaining in effect. The seven day stream flow average at the end of the month was below normal (10-24 percent) for the Guadalupe River basin. The Medina, Frio, and Nueces River Basins were much below normal (less than 10 percent). Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad rose slightly during the month but was still 29.1 feet below normal. Lake Travis was also up at 55.6 feet below normal. Medina Lake improved slightly and was 89.5 feet below normal. The Edwards Aquifer rose during the month and was at 645.7 feet. This was actually 2.3 feet higher than at the end of January 2014 but still 23.6 feet below average. The rain during the month allowed the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to end water restrictions. Fredericksburg remained in stage 3 water restrictions and Kerrville remained in stage 2.

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 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2015

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: 557593, 557594, 557595, 557596, 557597, 557598, 557599, 557600.