Texans in areas plagued by drought conditions may be hoping for relief from Tropical Storm Beryl, but unfortunately, the storm is not likely to bring much-needed rain to the regions that need it most.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about a quarter of the state is currently experiencing drought, with areas in West and Central Texas along the Rio Grande, as well as those just west of Austin and San Antonio, being the most affected. Approximately 3.5 million Texans live in areas with moderate, severe, or extreme levels of drought.
Meteorologist Paul Yura from the National Weather Service’s Austin-San Antonio office explained that while Texas typically relies on tropical activity for summertime rainfall, Beryl is forecasted to head north and east after making landfall along the central part of the Texas coast. This means that the rainfall from the storm is likely to benefit areas that are not currently in need of water.
Despite the disappointment for drought-stricken areas, previous storms this year have helped improve the state’s drought outlook. Tropical Storm Alberto brought much-needed rain to South Texas last month, reducing the percentage of the state in drought from 30 percent to 25 percent. Additionally, an unusually wet first five months of the year also contributed to a better drought outlook.
While Texas faced extreme drought conditions in 2011, with almost all of its land experiencing drought, the current situation is more regionalized. Drought is concentrated in West and South Central Texas, but no area in the state is facing conditions as severe as those in 2011, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Overall, Texans in drought-affected areas may have to wait a little longer for significant relief, as Tropical Storm Beryl is not expected to bring much-needed rain to the regions that need it most.
