Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS Corpus Christi, TX

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AXUS74 KCRP 232200
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TXZ229>234-239>247-062200-

DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
500 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2013

...BENEFICIAL RAINFALL BRINGS SOME MINOR DROUGHT RELIEF TO
PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS...

...STAGE 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR CORPUS CHRISTI DELAYED UNTIL
JUNE 2013...

...DROUGHT OUTLOOK CALLS FOR IMPROVING DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA WITH THE DROUGHT CONTINUING FARTHER
WEST...

.SYNOPSIS...
WIDESPREAD BENEFICIAL RAINFALL CONTINUED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH
TEXAS DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS...MAINLY OVER THE RIO GRANDE
PLAINS...SOUTHERN BRUSH COUNTRY...AND SOUTHERN COASTAL BEND. MOST
OF THE PRECIPITATION RECEIVED OVER THE HYDROLOGIC SERVICE AREA
(HSA) WAS RECEIVED FROM JUNE 10 THROUGH JUNE 12...AS A FRONTAL
BOUNDARY AND SLOW-MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW IMPACTED THE REGION.
ADDITIONALLY...SOME OF THESE STORMS FORMED OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF
MEXICO AND MOVED EAST DURING THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS
OF MAY 10-11...BRINGING HEAVY RAINFALL AND REPORTED FLOODING TO
WEBB COUNTY INCLUDING THE CITY OF LAREDO. WESTERN PORTIONS OF WEBB
COUNTY RECEIVED AROUND 3 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER...THE
HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS WEAKENED AS THEY MOVED EAST
THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MAY 11.
STILL...AS THE UPPER LOW SLOWLY PROGRESSED EAST...ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF
MAY...RESULTING IN MORE WIDESPREAD (ALTHOUGH NOT AS HEAVY)
RAINFALL. FROM MAY 10 THROUGH MAY 15...MOST OF THE SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF WEBB...DUVAL...AND JIM WELLS COUNTIES RECEIVED MORE
THAN 2 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION. FARTHER NORTH...THE REMAINDER OF
THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND SOUTHERN BRUSH COUNTRY RECEIVED 1/2 TO 1
1/2 INCHES OF RAIN...AS DID THE SOUTHERN COASTAL COUNTIES
(NUECES...KLEBERG AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES). THE VICTORIA AREA
AND NORTHEASTERN COASTAL BEND RECEIVED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
PRECIPITATION...WITH MOST LOCATIONS RECEIVING LESS THAN 1/2 INCH
OF RAINFALL. UNFORTUNATELY...LITTLE TO NO RAINFALL HAS BEEN
RECEIVED SINCE MAY 15...AS MOST OF THE ENERGY FROM UPPER LEVEL
STORM SYSTEMS HAS REMAINED NORTH OF THE AREA...AND FRONTAL
BOUNDARIES HAVE STALLED NORTH OF THE HSA AND DISSIPATED.

AHPS RAINFALL ANALYSIS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS SHOWS THAT MOST OF
THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND SOUTHERN BRUSH
COUNTRY RECEIVED ANYWHERE FROM 100 TO MORE THAN 200 PERCENT OF
THEIR NORMAL RAINFALL. AS A RESULT...SOME DROUGHT RELIEF WAS
OBSERVED OVER MANY OF THESE AREAS. ELSEWHERE...PERCENTAGES OF
NORMAL RAINFALL WERE GENERALLY LESS THAN 75 PERCENT...WITH MOST OF
VICTORIA COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF GOLIAD AND CALHOUN COUNTIES
RECEIVING NO MORE THAN 25 PERCENT OF NORMAL RAINFALL FOR THE
FOURTEEN DAY PERIOD.

THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR...VALID AS OF 7 AM EST MAY
21...2013...SHOWS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OVER THE HSA...

***PLEASE NOTE...THE DEFINED DROUGHT CATEGORY AREAS ARE VERY
   ROUGHLY ESTIMATED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE MAP IN OUR COMPUTER
   SYSTEM***

EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D4) EXIST OVER AN AREA ENCLOSED
BY THE FOLLOWING LINES. D4 CONDITIONS EXIST NEAR...SOUTH AND EAST
OF A LINE LOCATED FROM THE KLEBERG-NORTHWESTERN KENEDY-
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS COUNTY BORDER...TO NEAR RICARDO...TO A FEW
MILES EAST OF BISHOP...TO BETWEEN DRISCOLL AND PETROLINA...TO
NEAR NORTH SAN PEDRO...TO NEAR BLUNTZER...WITH THE LINE EXTENDING
NORTHWEST TO NEAR SANDIA...WITH THE LINE GENERALLY FOLLOWING THE
LIVE OAK-SAN PATRICIO COUNTY LINES TO JUST NORTH OF ARGENTA AND
TYMAN...TO SOUTH OF PAPALOTE. THE D4 AREA IS THEN LOCATED
NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE LOCATED FROM SOUTH OF PAPALOTE...TO
NEAR ST PAUL...TO A COUPLE MILES WEST OF SINTON...TO A COUPLE OF
MILES EAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...TO ABOUT 3
MILES EAST OF CHAPMAN RANCH...TO ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF MALAQUITE
BEACH. THE CITIES OF ROBSTOWN...MATHIS...ODEM...EXTREME WESTERN
PORTIONS OF CORPUS CHRISTI...AND LOYOLA BEACH ARE IN D4 STATUS.

OUTSIDE OF THE D4 AREA...EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D3) EXIST
ALONG...EAST AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR THE BORDER OF
THE DUVAL-JIM HOGG-NORTHWESTERN BROOKS COUNTY LINE...WITH THE LINE
EXTENDING NORTHEAST TO JUST WEST OF PALITO BLANCO...WITH THE LINE
THEN EXTENDING NORTHWEST TO EAST OF ROSITA...THEN NORTHEAST TO NEAR
THE COUNTY LINES OF NORTHEASTERN DUVAL...SOUTHWESTERN LIVE OAK
AND NORTHWESTERN JIM WELLS...TO SOUTH OF RIVER CREEK ACRES...TO
NEAR SKIDMORE. THE D3 AREA IS THEN LOCATED NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM NEAR SKIDMORE...TO SEVERAL MILES NORTHEAST AND EAST
OF PAPALOTE...WITH THE LINE THEN EXTENDING SOUTH TO A FEW MILES
EAST OF SINTON...TO CORPUS CHRISTI NORTH BEACH...WITH THE D3 LINE
GENERALLY FOLLOWING THE CORPUS CHRISTI BAY-NUECES COUNTY LINE INTO
THE GULF OF MEXICO. THIS PUTS THE CITIES OF ALICE...CORPUS CHRISTI
AND KINGSVILLE IN D3 STATUS. ANOTHER D3 AREA EXISTS ALONG THE RIO
GRANDE OVER WEBB COUNTY...GENERALLY NEAR AND WEST OF A LINE
LOCATED FROM NEAR COLUMBIA BRIDGE...TO WEST OF LAS TIENDAS...TO
NEAR RACHAL.

OUTSIDE THE D4 AND D3 AREAS...SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS (D2) EXIST
NEAR...SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM A FEW MILES EAST OF DILLEY
AND EAST OF COTULLA...TO A FEW MILES EAST OF ENCINAL...TO EAST OF
CALLAGHAN...EXTENDING SOUTH TO SEVERAL MILES EAST OF LAREDO AND
RIO BRAVO...WITH THE D2 AREA EXTENDING AS FAR SOUTH AS A FEW MILES
NORTH OF THE WEBB-ZAPATA COUNTY LINE. THE D2 LINE THEN CONTINUES
DUE EAST A FEW MILES NORTH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COUNTY LINES AND
AS FAR EAST AS AGUILARES. THE D2 AREA IS THEN NEAR AND EAST OF A
LINE LOCATED FROM A FEW MILES SOUTH OF AQUILARES...TO NEAR
OILTON...WITH THE LINE EXTENDING NORTH-NORTHEAST AND CROSSING THE
WEBB-DUVAL COUNTY LINE ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF THE NORTHERNMOST
PORTIONS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COUNTY LINES...CONTINUING TO EXTEND
NORTHEAST TO SEVERAL MILES WEST OF LOMA ALTA...TO NEAR CALLIHAM...TO
NEAR CROWTHER. THE D2 AREA EXTENDS AS FAR EAST...AND IS WEST OF A
LINE LOCATED FROM NEAR WESER...TO SEVERAL MILES WEST OF
GOLIAD...TO A FEW MILES EAST AND SEVERAL MILES SOUTH OF BERCLAIR
AND SEVERAL MILES WEST OF BLANCONIA. FINALLY...D2 CONDITIONS EXIST
OVER AN AREA NEAR AND SOUTH OF A LINE LOCATED FROM SEVERAL MILES
WEST OF BLANCONIA...TO NORTH OF CRANELL...WITH THE LINE EXTENDING
EAST TO NEAR BONNIE VIEW...THEN NORTHEAST TO A FEW MILES WEST OF
HOLIDAY BEACH...TO A FEW MILES WEST AND NORTH OF TIVOLI...TO NEAR
BLOOMINGTON AND NEAR PLACEDO...TO NORTH OF LA WARD (IN JACKSON
COUNTY). THIS PUTS THE CITIES OF FREER...LAREDO...GEORGE
WEST...BEEVILLE...ROCKPORT...SEA DRIFT AND PORT O`CONNOR IN D2
STATUS.

OUTSIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS...MODERATE DROUGHT (D1)
CONDITIONS EXIST. THE CITIES OF TILDEN...VICTORIA...REFUGIO AND
GOLIAD ARE IN THE D1 AREA.

SEE THE DROUGHT MONITOR PRODUCT (LINK PROVIDED AT THE END OF THE
STATEMENT) FOR A GRAPHICAL VIEW.

SUMMARY OF IMPACTS...

STATE AND LOCAL ACTIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE BURN BAN MAP OF MAY 23
2013...BURN BANS NO LONGER EXIST FOR NUECES AND SAN PATRICIO
COUNTIES. THUS...BURN BANS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE COUNTIES OF
KLEBERG...ARANSAS...REFUGIO...LIVE OAK...DUVAL...LA SALLE AND
WEBB. RESIDENTS PLANNING ON BURNING SHOULD CONTACT COUNTY
OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT BURNING IS ALLOWED...AND ALSO TO SEE IF
ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW AND WHEN TO BURN ARE IN EFFECT.

CORPUS CHRISTI WATER OFFICIALS HAVE DELAYED STAGE 3 WATER
RESTRICTIONS UNTIL SOMETIME IN JUNE. THE CITY SITED STABLE
RESERVOIR LEVELS...CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS (INCLUDING MORE RAIN
EXPECTED IN THE WATERSHED)...AND THE NEED TO PREPARE FOR
ENFORCEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY...SOME OF THIS ANTICIPATED RAINFALL DID
NOT OCCUR IN THE WATERSHED...AND RESERVOIR LEVELS CONTINUE TO
FALL.

UNDER THE STAGE 3 PLAN...RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BE
LIMITED TO WATERING THEIR LANDSCAPES ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE DAY
OF THE WEEK TO WATER WILL MATCH EACH PROPERTY`S RECYCLING
SCHEDULE. HAND-HELD WATERING DEVICES AND SOAKER HOSES WILL BE
ALLOWED...BUT SPRINKLER SYSTEMS WILL BE LIMITED TO WATERING ONCE
EVERY TWO WEEKS. THERE WILL BE A TWO WEEK WARNING PERIOD BEFORE
THE CITY BEGINS TO FINE RESIDENTS FOUND BREAKING THE STAGE 3
RULES. RESIDENTS IN CORPUS CHRISTI WITH SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE THEIR WATERING TO EVERY OTHER WEEK NOW TO
CONSERVE WATER AND PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS
(AND AVOID HEAVY FINES).

UNTIL THAT TIME THE STAGE 3 CONTINGENCY PLAN GOES INTO EFFECT FOR
CORPUS CHRISTI RESIDENTS...STAGE 2 RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN EFFECT.
THESE WATER RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE:

- WATERING OF LANDSCAPES IS NOT ALLOWED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM
  UNLESS RESIDENTS USE A HAND-HELD SPRINKLER OR BUCKET.

- LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO OBTAIN APPROVAL OF A WATERING
  PLAN. COMMERCIAL NURSERIES MUST USE HAND HELD DEVICES OR DRIP
  SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TO IRRIGATE.

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES NOT COMPLYING WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS
WILL RECEIVE A FINE OF UP TO 500 DOLLARS.

THE CITY OF PORTLAND ALSO REMAINS UNDER MANDATORY WATER
RESTRICTIONS WITH THEIR STAGE 1 DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN.
PROVISIONS INCLUDE:

- NO IRRIGATION OR LAWN WATERING BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM UNLESS
  RESIDENTS USE A HOSE BY HAND OR BUCKET.

- IRRIGATION MUST NOT RESULT IN WATER RUN-OFF NOR OVERFLOW INTO
  STORM DRAINS.

- WATER MAY NOT RUN CONSTANTLY THROUGH A TAP...HYDRANT...OR VALVE.

- DEFECTIVE PLUMBING WHICH RESULTS IN WATER LOSS OR LEAKS MUST BE
  REPAIRED.

THE CITY OF VICTORIA REMAINS UNDER THEIR STAGE 1 DROUGHT
CONTINGENCY PLAN...ASKING RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTARILY CONSERVE WATER.
THIS PLAN URGES RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTARILY REDUCE THEIR WATER FOR
NON-ESSENTIAL PURPOSES. THE CITY OF LAREDO ALSO OFFICIALLY
REMAINS UNDER VOLUNTARY WATER RESTRICTIONS.

RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSERVE WATER AND STOP
EXCESSIVELY WATERING THEIR LANDSCAPES. WATER CONSERVED NOW WILL
BE NEEDED MORE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS...ESPECIALLY IF WATER
SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO DWINDLE AND MORE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ARE
INSTITUTED. RESIDENTS ARE STILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO WATER ONLY
TO MAINTAIN SOIL MOISTURE. WATERING LANDSCAPES FOR ABOUT A HALF AN
HOUR ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO KEEP GRASSES
ALIVE. USE A SPRINKLER WHICH MAKES LARGE WATER DROPLETS. DO NOT ALLOW
WATER TO RUNOFF INTO SIDEWALKS AND STREETS (YOU MAY RECEIVE A FINE
FOR DOING THIS). ALSO...WATER SLOWLY...AND AVOID WATERING ON WINDY
DAYS (WIND INCREASES EVAPORATION). MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO
CONSERVE WATER IS FOUND ON CITY WEBSITES LISTED AT THE END OF THIS
STATEMENT.

ALSO...IF ADEQUATE RAINFALL WAS RECENTLY RECEIVED...WATERING
SHOULD BE OMITTED FOR ONE OR TWO WEEKS. RESIDENTS WITH SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS SHOULD CHANGE THEIR WATERING SCHEDULES TO WATER MUCH LESS
FREQUENTLY AND CONSERVE WATER.

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WITHIN THE HSA HAVE MAINTAINED EITHER
MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC WATER
SYSTEMS (PWS). RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN INFORMED ON ANY WATER
RESTRICTIONS WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED FOR THEIR LOCATION...AS ANY
VIOLATIONS CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT FINES. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (TCEQ)...HERE IS A LIST OF
LOCATIONS WITHIN THE HSA (AS OF MAY 22) WHICH HAVE WATER
RESTRICTIONS:

REMOVED RESTRICTIONS: NONE

NEW/AMENDED RESTRICTIONS:
KLEBERG COUNTY: KING RANCH SANTA GERTRUDIS DISTRICT
(VOLUNTARY...FROM STAGE 1)

PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS:

BEE COUNTY: CITY OF BEEVILLE (STAGE 1)...BLUEBERRY HILLS
WATERWORKS (STAGE 2)

CALHOUN COUNTY: THE CITY OF PORT COMFORT (STAGE 1)

JIM WELLS COUNTY: CITY OF ALICE (STAGE 1)...ENGLISH ACRES (STAGE
3)...PAISANO MOBILE HOME PARK (STAGE 3)

KLEBERG COUNTY: RICARDO WSC (STAGE 1)...AND EAST RIVIERA WSC
(VOLUNTARY)

LIVE OAK: BUCKEYE KNOLL (STAGE 1)...OLD MARBACH SCHOOL WSC
(VOLUNTARY)

NUECES COUNTY: NUECES COUNTY WCID 3 (VOLUNTARY)...NUECES WSC
(STAGE 1)

SAN PATRICIO COUNTY: CITY OF TAFT (STAGE 1)...CITY OF ODEM (STAGE
1)...AND SAN PATRICIO MWD (STAGE 1)

WEBB COUNTY: MIRANDO CITY WSC (VOLUNTARY)


AGRICULTURAL AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS.
THE SOIL MOISTURE ANOMALY MAP FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER
VALID ON MAY 22 STILL SHOWS BELOW NORMAL SOIL CONDITIONS OVER THE
HSA...WITH ANOMALIES GENERALLY BETWEEN -60 MM (OVER SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE HSA) AND -100 MM (NEAR THE VICTORIA AREA). SOIL
MOISTURE RANKING PERCENTILES ARE BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PERCENT AREA-
WIDE. CROP MOISTURE INDICES (FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 18) ARE NOW
SLIGHTLY DRY/FAVORABLY MOIST (BETWEEN -0.9 AND +0.9) OVER THE
EASTERN HSA...BUT ABNORMALLY DRY (-1.0 TO -1.9) OVER THE WESTERN
HSA.

IN AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE...THE U.S. WINTER WHEAT CROP IS
FORECAST TO BE SMALLER THIS SEASON COMPARED TO LAST. EXPERTS
ESTIMATE THAT THE CROP WILL BE DOWN ABOUT 10 PERCENT COMPARED WITH
LAST YEAR...PARTLY DUE TO THE DROUGHT BUT ALSO DUE TO LATE SPRING
FREEZES. ANOTHER SURVEY SAYS THAT THE LOSS COULD BE AS MUCH AS 25
PERCENT. THE DRY FALL SEASON LEFT THE WHEAT IN THE POOREST
CONDITION SINCE 1985.

IN AN ARTICLE FOUND IN THE DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER (LINK PROVIDED
BELOW)...THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BEGAN DECLARING
COUNTIES AS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DISASTER AREAS RELATED TO THE
DROUGHT IN JANUARY FOR THE 2013 GROWING SEASON. FARMERS IN
AFFECTED COUNTIES HAVE EIGHT MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF DECLARATION
TO APPLY FOR LOW-INTEREST EMERGENCY LOANS. FOR MORE
INFORMATION...AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR FARM
SERVICE AGENCY OFFICE.

THE TEXAS CROP AND WEATHER REPORTS FOR MAY 14 AND MAY 21 CONTAINED
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

FOR THE COASTAL BEND DISTRICT:

- RECENT RAINS IMPROVED CROP PROSPECTS.

- COOLER TEMPERATURES DELAYED COTTON DEVELOPMENT.

- SOME PRODUCERS TOOK THEIR FIRST HAY CUTTING OF WINTER GRASSES.

- LIMITED RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS IMPROVED CROP AND PASTURE
  CONDITIONS...BUT WARMER AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WERE QUICKLY
  DIMINISHING SOIL MOISTURE.

FOR THE WESTERN AREAS (CONSIDERED PART OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT):

- THE NORTHERN PART OF THE REGION RECEIVED RAIN...BUT SOIL-
  MOISTURE LEVELS REMAINED MOSTLY SHORT TO VERY SHORT.
  GENERALLY...THE TREND OF STRONG WINDS...WARM TEMPERATURES AND
  SCATTERED SHOWERS CONTINUED.

- ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE REGION SUPPLIED A
  LITTLE MOISTURE TO RANGE AND PASTURES...BUT STRONG WINDS AND
  HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE BEGINNING TO DEPLETE THAT MOISTURE.

- SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING CONTINUED AT A STEADY PACE IN THAT AREA.
  SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING WAS STEADY IN MCMULLEN COUNTY...WITH CATTLE
  BODY-CONDITION SCORES FAIR TO POOR.

- IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE REGION...THERE WAS LIMITED
  IMPROVEMENT IN RANGELAND AND PASTURE. OTHERWISE...DROUGHT
  CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE RANGE AND PASTURES.

- IN WEBB COUNTY...AS IN OTHER COUNTIES...LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
  CONTINUED CULLING HERDS.

- THOUGH RANGELAND AND PASTURES IMPROVED IN DUVAL COUNTY...NOT
  MANY CATTLE REMAINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRAZING.

- MOST STOCK TANKS THERE WERE COMPLETELY OR ALMOST DRY...AND
  WILDLIFE WERE MIGRATING TO OTHER AREAS IN SEARCH OF WATER.

- IN JIM WELLS COUNTY...CROP-INSURANCE ADJUSTERS ESTIMATED THAT
  MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE GRAIN SORGHUM...CORN AND COTTON WERE
  A TOTAL LOSS. ONLY A FEW EARLY-PLANTED CORNFIELDS HAD A CHANCE
  OF MAKING A CROP...DEPENDING ON ADDITIONAL MOISTURE.
  HOWEVER...SOIL-MOISTURE LEVELS IN JIM WELLS COUNTY CURRENTLY
  WERE 100 PERCENT ADEQUATE BECAUSE OF GOOD RAINS OVER THE PAST
  COUPLE OF WEEKS.


FIRE DANGER HAZARDS.
USING THE 5 DAY AVERAGE...A MODERATE FIRE DANGER EXISTS OVER
SOUTH TEXAS. THE FIRE DANGER HAS DIMINISHED DUE TO RECENT
RAINFALL...ABOVE NORMAL HUMIDITY...AND LIGHTER WINDS. WITH JUNE
APPROACHING...THE PROBABILITY FOR STRONG PACIFIC AND POLAR FRONTS IS
RAPIDLY DIMINISHING. THUS...AS LONG AS WIDESPREAD RAINFALL IS
RECEIVED FROM TIME TO TIME...THE CHANCES FOR CRITICAL TO EXTREME
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DIMINISH.

RECENT COUNTY-AVERAGED KEETCH-BYRAM DROUGHT INDICES (KBDI) HAVE
DIMINISHED OVER THE SOUTHERN BRUSH COUNTRY AND RIO GRANDE PLAINS.
HOWEVER...VALUES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE VICTORIA CROSSROADS AREA.
ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS STILL HAS AVERAGED KBDI VALUES OF LESS THAN
600. THE FOLLOWING KBDI AVERAGES WERE OBSERVED AS OF MAY 23:

200 TO 300: NONE

300 TO 400: NONE

400 TO 500: MCMULLEN...VICTORIA...GOLIAD...WEBB...DUVAL AND JIM
            WELLS COUNTIES

500 TO 600: LA SALLE...LIVE OAK...BEE...CALHOUN...REFUGIO...
            ARANSAS...KLEBERG...NUECES AND SAN PATRICIO
            COUNTIES.

600 TO 700: NONE.

700 TO 800: NONE.


RIVER AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS.
SINCE MOST OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS
OCCURRED SOUTH OF THE MAJOR SOUTH TEXAS RIVERS AND CREEKS...THERE
HAS BEEN LITTLE CHANGE TO RIVER AND CREEK LEVELS OVER THE HSA.
THUS...RIVER AND CREEK LEVELS REMAIN BELOW TO WELL BELOW NORMAL
OVER THE GUADALUPE RIVER...THE ATASCOSA RIVER...MISSION
RIVER...FRIO RIVER AND NUECES RIVER ABOVE CHOKE CANYON DAM. THE
ARANSAS AND SAN ANTONIO RIVERS REMAIN AT NEAR NORMAL LEVELS.
DURING THE PAST WEEK...FLOWS ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER AT VICTORIA
HAVE GENERALLY BEEN BETWEEN 5.0 FEET (300 CFS) AND 5.5 FEET (511
CFS). AS LONG AS FLOWS ON THE GUADALUPE RIVER REMAIN ABOVE 150 CFS
(JUST ABOVE 4.1 FEET)...THE CITY OF VICTORIA CAN OBTAIN ITS WATER
FROM THE RIVER.

CHOKE CANYON DAM RECENTLY INCREASED ITS RELEASE TO 180 CFS...IN
PART TO HELP SUSTAIN LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI AND ALSO TO HANDLE THE
INCREASE IN WATER USAGE. WITH THE LACK OF WIDESPREAD HEAVY
RAINFALL OVER THE CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED...THE COMBINED
CAPACITY FOR THE CORPUS CHRISTI WATER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO DECLINE.
AS OF MAY 23...THE LEVEL AT CHOKE CANYON DAM WAS AT 200.3 FEET
(40.3 PERCENT CAPACITY)...WITH LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI AT 77.0 FEET
(15.4 PERCENT CAPACITY). THE COMBINED SYSTEM CAPACITY FOR THE
CORPUS CHRISTI WATER SUPPLY WAS AT 33.6 PERCENT...WHICH IS 0.7
PERCENTAGE POINT LOWER THAN ON MAY 8. THE LEVEL AT LAKE TEXANA
FELL 0.5 FEET SINCE MAY 8...WITH THE LATEST LEVEL AT 43.5 FEET
(97.1 PERCENT CAPACITY). THE POOL LEVEL ON COLETO CREEK ROSE 0.12
FEET SINCE EARLY MAY...WITH THE LATEST POOL AT 96.02 FEET. CANYON
DAM WAS AT 899.06 FEET (80 PERCENT)...OR 0.01 FEET LOWER THAN ON
MAY 8. FINALLY...THE LEVEL AT LAKE AMISTAD WAS NOW AT 1055.95 FEET
(23 PERCENT CAPACITY)...OR 0.31 FEET LOWER THAN ON MAY 8.


CLIMATE SUMMARY...
RECENT RAINFALL OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS HELPED TO IMPROVE
DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER MANY AREAS...AS EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DWINDLE OVER THE HSA. WHILE MUCH OF THE
SOUTHERN BRUSH COUNTRY AND RIO GRANDE PLAINS HAVE RECEIVED ABOVE
NORMAL RAINFALL FROM LATE APRIL THROUGH MID MAY...THERE ARE STILL
MANY LOCATIONS...MAINLY THE VICTORIA AREA AND MOST OF THE COASTAL
COUNTIES...WHICH HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN THIS WELCOMED AND ABOVE
NORMAL RAINFALL PERIOD.

SO FAR IN MAY...TEMPERATURES OVER MOST OF SOUTH TEXAS HAVE BEEN
BELOW NORMAL. THIS HAS HELPED TO KEEP RESERVOIRS FROM FALLING MORE
RAPIDLY...BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE HELPED CURTAIL WATER USAGE (AT
LEAST IN THE CORPUS CHRISTI AREA). AS OF MAY 22...THE AVERAGE
MONTHLY TEMPERATURE WAS 0.4 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AT CORPUS
CHRISTI...BUT 2.0 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AT VICTORIA AND 2.9 DEGREES
BELOW NORMAL AT LAREDO.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE TOTAL MONTHLY RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OBSERVED THROUGH MAY 23...SO FAR IN 2013...AND FOR THE TOTAL 2013
WATER YEAR WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER 1 2012. ALL VALUES ARE IN
INCHES...RAINFALL DEFICITS ARE SHOWN IN PARENTHESIS (A "+"
INDICATES A SURPLUS):

                                                     WATER YEAR
                   THRU MAY 23          2013    10/1/2012 - 05/23/2013

CORPUS CHRISTI     0.71  (1.48)     4.04  (5.35)     4.85 (12.83)

VICTORIA           0.34  (3.49)     7.54  (6.48)     9.51 (13.95)

LAREDO AIRPORT     3.78 (+1.95)     6.27 (+0.06)     6.89  (3.72)

FOR THE THREE CLIMATE STATIONS...THE 2013 PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL
RAINFALL WAS: 43.0 PERCENT AT CORPUS CHRISTI...53.8 PERCENT AT
VICTORIA...AND 101.3 PERCENT AT LAREDO. THE WATER YEAR PERCENTAGES
OF NORMAL WERE AS FOLLOWS: 40.5 PERCENT AT VICTORIA...27.4 PERCENT
AT CORPUS CHRISTI...AND 64.9 PERCENT AT LAREDO.

ENSO (EL-NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION) NEUTRAL CONDITIONS STILL EXIST
OVER THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC...AS SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR
AVERAGE ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN BUT BELOW
AVERAGE OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. THE CLIMATE PREDICTION
CENTER (CPC) STILL EXPECTS ENSO (EL-NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)
NEUTRAL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SUMMER OF 2013
(AND PROBABLY THROUGH THE FALL OF 2013). ALTHOUGH PROBABILISTIC
ENSO OUTLOOKS STILL FAVOR ENSO-NEUTRAL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE
DECEMBER-JANUARY-FEBRUARY TIME FRAME...THE CHANCES FOR EL-NINO
CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP BY THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2014 ARE
LOW. IN THE FORECAST FOR THE DECEMBER-JANUARY-FEBRUARY TIME
FRAME...THERE IS ABOUT A 44 PERCENT PROBABILITY FOR ENSO NEUTRAL
CONDITIONS...ABOUT A 23 PERCENT CHANCE FOR EL-NINO CONDITIONS...
AND ABOUT A 33 PERCENT CHANCE FOR LA NINA CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP.


PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOKS...
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
OVER THE BRUSH COUNTRY AND RIO GRANDE PLAINS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OVER THESE AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE LESS THAN 1/4 INCH.
OTHERWISE...NO SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OVER SOUTH TEXAS
DURING THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS...OR THROUGH MAY 30. TEMPERATURES FOR
THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE
NORMAL.

THE 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK...VALID FOR THE PERIOD MAY 31 THROUGH JUNE
6...SHOWS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL OVER THE ENTIRE HSA.

THE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK FOR JUNE...ISSUED ON MAY 16...NOW SHOWS A
GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL OVER NEARLY ALL OF
THE HSA...WITH EQUAL CHANCES FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL
OVER MOST OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES. THE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK FOR
JUNE CALLS FOR A GREATLY LIKELIHOOD FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES
OVER MOST OF THE HSA...WITH EQUAL CHANCES FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW
NORMAL TEMPERATURES OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN THIRD OF THE HSA.

THE THREE-MONTH CLIMATE OUTLOOKS...VALID FOR JUNE THROUGH
AUGUST...FORECASTS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD FOR ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND EQUAL CHANCES FOR NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL. THE DROUGHT OUTLOOK PRODUCT...ISSUED MAY 16 AND VALID
THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST...CALLS FOR DROUGHT CONDITIONS TO
IMPROVE (BUT DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUING) OVER THE COASTAL
COUNTIES...THE VICTORIA AREA...AND MOST OF THE NORTHERN COASTAL
BEND...WITH ON-GOING DROUGHT CONDITIONS (PERSISTING OR WORSENING)
OVER THE REMAINING WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE HSA.

FINALLY...THE LAGGED AVERAGE SOIL MOISTURE OUTLOOK THROUGH THE
END OF AUGUST 2013 FORECASTS NEAR NORMAL SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS
OVER NEARLY ALL OF THE HSA...WITH SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL SOIL
CONDITIONS NEAR THE VICTORIA AREA. DESPITE EQUAL CHANCES FOR
NEAR/ABOVE/BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL FOR THE JUNE THROUGH AUGUST TIME
FRAME...A TROPICAL SYSTEM (IF NOT TWO OR THREE) WILL LIKELY BE
NEEDED TO BRING SOME SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT RELIEF TO THE
HSA...ESPECIALLY OVER THE WESTERN AREAS BEFORE THE END OF SUMMER.

NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THE NEXT DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED ON OR
SHORTLY AFTER JUNE 6 2013.

RELATED WEB SITES...
NWS CORPUS CHRISTI DROUGHT PAGE:
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/CRP/DROUGHT.HTML

ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE (AHPS)...
HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/PRECIP

U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR (INCLUDES DROUGHT AND SOIL MOISTURE
OUTLOOKS... DROUGHT ARCHIVES AND TEMPERATURE/RAINFALL OUTLOOKS)...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/MONITOR.HTML

U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR (INCLUDES ONLY TEXAS)...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/DM_STATE.HTM?TX,S

U.S. DROUGHT PORTAL...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.GOV

TEXAS DROUGHT MONITORING SITE...
HTTP://WWW.TXWIN.NET/MONITORING/METEOROLOGICAL/DROUGHT/INDICES.HTM

NOAA DROUGHT PAGE...
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.NOAA.GOV

DROUGHT IMPACT REPORTER...
HTTP://DROUGHTREPORTER.UNL.EDU/

VEGETATION DROUGHT RESPONSE INDEX
HTTP://DROUGHT.UNL.EDU.VEGDRI/VEGDRI_MAIN.HTM?EV

CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER...
HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV

WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER...
HTTP://WWW.HPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV

STANDARDIZED PRECIPITATION INDEX (SPI)...
HTTP://WWW.WRCC.DRI.EDU/SPI/SPI.HTML

AGNEWS: TEXAS A & M AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM (CROP AND WEATHER REPORT)...
HTTP://TODAY.AGRILIFE.ORG

TEXAS INTERAGENCY COORDINATION CENTER (TICC)...
HTTP://WWW.TAMU.EDU/TICC/

TEXAS BURN BANS...HTTP://TFSFRP.TAMU.EDU/WILDFIRES/DECBAN.PNG

TEXAS KBDI...HTTP://WEBGIS.TAMU.EDU/TFS/KBDI_DAILY/KBDICOUNTY.PNG

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (WATER RESTRICTIONS):
WWW.TCEQ.TEXAS.GOV/DRINKINATER/TROT/LOCATION.HTML

CORPUS CHRISTI WATER CONSERVATION:
WWW.CCTEXAS.COM/WATER/CONSERVATION

VICTORIA WATER CONSERVATION:
WWW.VICTORIATX.ORG/PIO/PDFS/WATERSAVINGMETHODS.PDF

LAREDO WATER INFORMATION:
WWW.CI.LAREDO.TX.US/UTILITIES05/INDEX.HTML

CITY OF VICTORIA WEB SITE...WWW.VICTORIATX.ORG

CITY OF LAREDO WEB SITE...WWW.CI.LAREDO.TX.US

CITY OF PORTLAND WEB SITE...WWW.PORTLANDTX.COM

CORPUS CHRISTI WATER DEPARTMENT...WWW.CCTEXAS.COM/WATER

ADDITIONAL RIVER INFORMATION...
NWS...HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS/
USGS...HTTP://WATER.USGS.GOV/

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...
THE DROUGHT MONITOR IS A MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT INVOLVING THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE AND NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER...THE USDA...STATE
AND REGIONAL CENTER CLIMATOLOGISTS AND THE NATIONAL DROUGHT
MITIGATION CENTER. INFORMATION FOR THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN GATHERED
FROM NWS AND FAA OBSERVATION SITES...STATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
SERVICES...THE USDA...USACE AND USGS.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS DROUGHT INFORMATION
STATEMENT...PLEASE CONTACT...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
426 PINSON DRIVE
CORPUS CHRISTI TX 78406
PHONE: 361-289-0959 SR-
CRP.WEBMASTER@NOAA.GOV

$$

GW
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