Texas, 2023

Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 2023

December 1 to 31, 2023 · NWS EWX · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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
20

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.

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

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 Nov 30, 10:38 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 10:38 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
1038 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Friday night)
Issued at 229 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

A pre-frontal trough moving through the southern Edwards Plateau and
Hill Country is noted on surface observations and can also be seen
as clearing of low clouds occurs over the mentioned areas. Farther
east, we are seeing some breaks in the cloud cover begin to appear
for areas along and east of the I-35 corridor. An axis of higher
dewpoints is noted along the Highway 77 corridor, along with locally
backed surface winds. Any breaks in the cloud cover could help in
the development of some late afternoon thunderstorms along the
Highway 77 corridor.

For tonight, the above mentioned surface trough will help usher in
some drier air across the Hill Country and southern Edwards Plateau.
A very weak and shallow cold front may also bring some drier air to
portions of the I-35 corridor near Austin early Friday morning.
Farther south, dewpoints may still be high enough when combined with
mostly clear skies and wet ground to promote fog development
generally along and south of U.S. Highway 90. Lows tonight will
range from the mid 40s in the Hill Country to near 60 degrees in the
coastal plains. Any remnants of the cold front will tend to hang up
in the coastal plains tomorrow. With active southwest flow aloft
continuing, we could see some more convection develop over the
coastal plains region tomorrow afternoon. An isolated thunderstorm
or two also remains possible.  Weak high pressure and dry air in the
low-levels will yield dry conditions Friday night along with
overnight lows in the lower 40s to lower 50s.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 229 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

Synopsis: The long term period will begin with the continued
presence of mean troughing over the western CONUS. An elongated
trough axis extending from Baja California to the western Great
Lakes will move overhead late Saturday into Sunday, helping to usher
a weak surface front/northwest wind shift through the area by Sunday
morning. This will bring noticeably drier air into South-Central
Texas from Sunday into the beginning of next week, though minimal
changes in temperatures are expected. Early period troughing over
the western CONUS will be replaced by longwave ridging by the middle
of next week, though precise evolution of the upper pattern is less
certain locally. There appears to be at least broad consensus
amongst the global guidance that height falls will linger over
northwestern Mexico, gradually drifting toward the region by the end
of the period. The precise character of said height falls -- namely
their amplitude and whether or not a closed low can materialize
within them -- remains highly uncertain, particularly when comparing
ensemble mean solutions to their deterministic counterparts.
Forecast confidence thus decreases by late next week & the
conclusion of the long term period.

Saturday Through Monday: Expect a nice stretch of weather with
partly to mostly sunny skies, high temperatures ranging from the
upper 60s to mid 70s, and dew points dropping into the 20s/30s by
Sunday morning. Expect the dry air to last through Monday afternoon.
Winds are forecast to regain a southerly component late Monday,
bringing modestly higher moisture into the region moving into the
middle of the week.

Wednesday & Thursday: A dry forecast continues to prevail despite
the uncertainties regarding the local upper air pattern. High
temperatures will likely be a touch cooler, with most locations
remaining in the upper 60s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1028 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

A tricky forecast tonight with frequent visibility changes expected
at KSSF and possibly at KDRT/KSAT. Chances for low cigs have
diminished considerably over the past several hours, but a SCT/BKN250
cirrus deck will continue to stream overhead. Light to calm winds
and a saturated ground after today's drizzle will keep the potential
for fog around much of the night. While guidance has backed off on
the potential for long-lived LIFR conditions, I would expect
temporary degradation to that level at KSSF and potentially KDRT.
During the day Friday, expect winds to remain light and shift from
the north to the northeast at the I-35 terminals.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Austin Camp Mabry              51  71  48  75 /   0  10   0   0
Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport  52  71  47  75 /   0  10   0   0
New Braunfels Muni Airport     54  74  50  77 /   0   0   0   0
Burnet Muni Airport            48  69  46  73 /   0   0   0   0
Del Rio Intl Airport           51  77  50  76 /   0   0   0   0
Georgetown Muni Airport        50  70  45  73 /   0   0   0   0
Hondo Muni Airport             51  76  48  76 /   0   0   0   0
San Marcos Muni Airport        53  72  48  76 /   0  10   0   0
La Grange - Fayette Regional   57  69  50  72 /  10  20  10  10
San Antonio Intl Airport       55  74  51  76 /   0   0   0   0
Stinson Muni Airport           56  75  52  77 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Short-Term...KCW
Long-Term...Brady
Aviation...KCW
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 30, 6:31 PM CST, 5 hours 29 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
631 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-020045-
Llano-Burnet-Williamson-Val Verde-Edwards-Real-Kerr-Bandera-
Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco-Hays-Travis-Bastrop-Lee-Kinney-Uvalde-
Medina-Bexar-Comal-Guadalupe-Caldwell-Fayette-Maverick-Zavala-
Frio-Atascosa-Wilson-Karnes-Gonzales-De Witt-Lavaca-Dimmit-
631 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for South-Central Texas..

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Areas of fog will develop across areas primarily south of US-90.
Patchy dense fog is possible with visibilities of a quarter mile
or less.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Atascosa

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Atascosa forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
28.894, -98.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bandera

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

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bastrop

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bastrop forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.104, -97.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Bexar

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bexar forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.449, -98.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Blanco

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Blanco forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.266, -98.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Burnet

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Burnet forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.788, -98.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Caldwell

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.837, -97.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Comal

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comal forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Gillespie

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

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Gonzales

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Gonzales forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.457, -97.492 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Guadalupe

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Guadalupe forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.583, -97.949 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Hays

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hays forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.058, -98.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Karnes

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Karnes forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
28.906, -97.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Kendall

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

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Kerr

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

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Llano

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Llano forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.706, -98.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Medina

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

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Travis

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Travis forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.335, -97.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Williamson

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Williamson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
30.648, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

Drought, Wilson

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Wilson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
29.174, -98.087 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly all of South Central Texas had below normal precipitation in December and the drought worsened in two counties and was unchanged everywhere else. Bandera and Medina Counties worsened from Severe (D2) drought to Extreme (D3) drought. Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Kerr, Llano, and Wilson Counties stayed in D2. Area reservoirs continued to be below normal conservation pool level. Medina Lake dropped 0.8 feet and was 89.3 feet below normal. Lake Buchanan actually rose 0.2 feet but was still 25.8 feet below normal. Lake Travis dropped 0.4 feet and was 49.9 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 0.8 feet to 21.4 feet below normal and was at its lowest level on record. The Edwards Aquifer rose 1.5 feet but was still 28.9 feet below normal. Most public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some of the larger services had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 4, Georgetown, Kerrville, San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels, and Austin Stage 2. At the end of the month, the 7-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, below (10%-24%) normal on the Nueces, Frio, Colorado, and San Gabriel Rivers, and below normal to normal (25%-75%) on the San Antonio River. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought only Medina had an outdoor burn ban in effect at the end of the month.

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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2023

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: 1147772, 1147773, 1147774, 1147775, 1147776, 1147777, 1147778, 1147779, 1147780, 1147781, 1147782, 1147783, 1147784, 1147785, 1147786, 1147787, 1147788, 1147789, 1147790, 1147791.