National Weather Service Text Product Display

Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS Brownsville, TX
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AXUS74 KBRO 111000
DGTBRO

TXC047-061-215-247-261-427-489-505-131800
Drought Information Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
0500 AM CDT Fri Jun 11 2021

...Drought conditions have ended across most of Deep South Texas...

.SYNOPSIS...

Moderate to heavy rainfall late last week has helped improve drought
conditions further. The lack of rainfall and warm to hot conditions
since have likely stalled much of the improvement across Zapata
County. High pressure will likely keep dry conditions in place into
next week, with tropical moisture on the rise late next week,
potentially bringing additional rainfall opportunities.

Over the past 90 days...the majority of rainfall has fallen across
the Rio Grande Valley, Brooks County, and Kenedy County.
Southeastern Starr, northern Brooks, eastern Cameron, most of
Kenedy, most of Willacy, and most of Hidalgo counties have received
anywhere between 200 to 300 percent of their normal rainfall, while
the remainder of Kenedy, Willacy, Cameron, Hidalgo, Brooks, southern
Zapata, most of Starr, and most of Jim Hogg counties have received
between 125 to 200 percent. Northwestern Jim Hogg to portions of
southern Jim Hogg and northern Starr counties, as well as portions
of south central Zapata County have received anywhere between 90 to
125 percent of their normal rainfall, while northern Zapata County
has received anywhere between 25 and 90 percent of their normal
rainfall.

According to the latest United States Drought Monitor...Extreme (D2)
drought conditions have improved and are no longer being observed
across Deep South Texas. Moderate (D1) drought conditions are only
being observed across portions of northwestern Zapata County.
Abnormally dry conditions are being observed across the remainder of
Zapata County and western Jim Hogg County. Drought conditions have
improved and are no longer being observed across Jim Hogg, Starr,
and northern Hidalgo counties.

SUMMARY OF IMPACTS...

FIRE DANGER IMPACTS.

According to the Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook by the
National Interagency Fire Center on June 1st, the potential for
significant wildland fires across Deep South Texas is normal through
September 2021. The latest observed Fire Danger Map from the Texas
Inter-Agency Coordination Center (TICC) for June 10th, indicated
moderate fire danger across central to eastern Cameron and
southeastern Willacy counties, with low fire danger across the
remainder of Deep South Texas.

The latest Keetch-Byram Drought Indices (KBDI) were between 500 to
700 across portions of northwestern Zapata County, with KBDI values
between 400 to 500 across south central to eastern Zapata,
northwestern Jim Hogg, and portions of northern Starr counties. KBDI
values of generally 300 to 400 were found across portions of
southern Zapata, northwestern to southern Jim Hogg, northwestern
Hidalgo, southern Cameron, and northern Starr counties. KBDI values
of 200 to 300 were found across extreme southern to southeastern
Zapata, central and southwestern Jim Hogg, northern and southwestern
Starr counties, and southern Cameron County. KBDI values of 0 to 200
were found across the remainder of Deep South Texas, including
eastern Jim Hogg, most of Starr, most of Cameron, and most of
Hidalgo counties, as well as all of Willacy, Brooks, and Kenedy
counties.

Residents of Deep South Texas are still urged to take extra
precautions when conducting any outside burning, and should contact
county officials for any scheduled burning. Currently, the Texas
Forest Service reports Zapata, Brooks, Starr, Hidalgo, and Willacy
counties as having burn bans in effect. Residents are also reminded
that fire danger can change quickly from one day to another as winds
and relative humidity values vary, especially after frontal passages.

AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture and Texas
Agrilife Extension Service Agents...soil moisture levels were
adequate in most areas. Portions of Kenedy County reported 21 inches
of rain for May. Some harvests continue to be delayed by rains and
wet fields. Rangeland and pasture conditions improved significantly
and creeks were flowing. Livestock and wildlife water tanks are
full.

WATER RESTRICTIONS.

According to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality
(TCEQ)...there are 32 cities or water supply entities that are under
voluntary or mandatory water restrictions. There are 8 Public Water
Supply entities in Cameron county, 13 in Hidalgo county, 6 in Starr
county, 3 in Zapata county and 2 in Willacy county. All water users
are urged to conserve water.

CLIMATE SUMMARY...

Overall, temperatures have remained slightly cooler than normal into
June, with mid-level high pressure putting a stop to the active wet
pattern that came into June from May.

Rainfall to date in June at Brownsville was 0.66 of an inch, or 0.09
of an inch below normal. Rainfall to date in 2021 at Brownsville was
9.58 inches, or 1.58 inches above normal.

Rainfall to date in June at Harlingen was 1.90 inches, or 1.26
inches above normal. Rainfall to date in 2021 at Harlingen was 11.35
inches, or 3.66 inches above normal.

Rainfall to date in June at McAllen was 7.14 inches, or 6.22 inches
above normal. Rainfall to date in 2021 at McAllen was 16.61 inches,
or 9.36 inches above normal.

PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK...

Meteorological Outlook...The mid-level ridge of high pressure has
kept warm to hot and dry conditions in place across Deep South Texas
over the past week. The ridge slowly edges northwest toward the Four
Corners as low pressure builds across the western Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical moisture is expected to increase into late next week with
all eyes glued on the southwestern Gulf of Mexico for any tropical
development. As of now, the chance of rain returns Wednesday with
additional rainfall, especially along the coast into late next week.

Rainfall of one tenth of an inch or less is expected across Deep
South Texas through Thursday, June 17th. Overall, above normal
rainfall is expected through Sunday, June 20th.

Slightly below normal high temperatures in the low to mid 90s across
the valley and near 100 degrees across the west are expected into
next week. As cloud cover and rain chances increase late next week,
expect highs to dip a couple of degrees cooler. Low temperatures
remain above normal in the upper 70s to low 80s through next week.
Overall, below normal temperatures are expected through Sunday, June
20th.

The long range climate outlook for Deep South Texas through August
2021...derived from guidance from the National Weather Service and
the Climate Prediction Center...indicates that above normal
temperatures are generally expected for Deep South Texas into late
summer with equal chances of above or below normal rainfall. The
latest monthly drought outlook indicates that drought will remain
but improve across Deep South Texas through the month of June. The
latest seasonal drought outlook indicated drought will remain but
improve over portions of the northwestern ranchlands and brush
country through August 2021.

HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK...

According to the Texas Water Development Board (TDWB)...the current
Texas water share at Falcon Reservoir has increased during the past
four weeks to 27.2 percent. This is near the previous level of 27.0
percent three months ago. The Texas water share at Falcon at this
time last year was at 32.3 percent. The current Texas water share at
Amistad Reservoir has remained nearly steady during the past four
weeks at 51.9 percent. This is a decrease from a previous level of
60.5 percent three months ago. The Texas water share at Amistad at
this time last year was at 58.6 percent. The reservoirs at Falcon
and Amistad provide much of the water for the Rio Grande Valley.
Residents, including growers and ranchers of the lower Rio Grande
Valley are urged to take all necessary steps to conserve water.

NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...

This will be the last Drought Information Statement issued, unless
Severe (D2) drought conditions re-develop.

RELATED WEB SITES...

For additional information...and the latest weather forecast for
Deep South Texas...visit our website at www.weather.gov/rgv. You may
also visit the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center
website at www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov and get the latest information on
reservoir levels from the International Boundary and Water
Commission (IBWC) at www.ibwc.gov.

Additional web sites:

NWS BROWNSVILLE DROUGHT PAGE: http://www.weather.gov/bro/drought

NWS BROWNSVILLE Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS):
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=bro

U.S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

U.S. Drought Portal: http://www.drought.gov

National Drought Mitigation Center: http://drought.unl.edu

Texas Water Development Board Reservoir Website:
https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/statewide

Texas Interagency Coordination Center (TICC): http://ticc.tamu.edu

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (water restrictions):
www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater/trot/location.html

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...

The Drought Monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA`s
National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental
Information...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...the
USDA...state Agrilife Extension Service District agents, Texas Inter-
agency Coordination Center, Texas Forest Service, state and federal
wildlife departments Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the International
Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information
statement...please contact...

National Weather Service
20 South Vermillion Avenue
Brownsville, TX
Phone: 956-504-1432 Email: sr-bro.webmaster@noaa.gov

$$

Hallman
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
