Texans in areas plagued by drought conditions may be hoping for some relief from Tropical Storm Beryl. Unfortunately, it seems that the storm is not going to bring much-needed rain to those regions.
Currently, about a quarter of the state of Texas is facing drought conditions, mainly in West and Central Texas along the Rio Grande, as well as areas west of Austin and San Antonio. Approximately 3.5 million Texans live in these drought-affected areas, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
However, the forecast for Tropical Storm Beryl indicates that it will move north and then east after landfall, bringing rainfall to regions that are already well-watered. This leaves the drought-stricken areas in Texas without the much-needed precipitation.
Meteorologist Paul Yura from the National Weather Service office in Austin-San Antonio expressed concern about the prolonged drought in areas that desperately need water. He highlighted the importance of tropical activity for summer rainfall in Texas.
Texas has traditionally relied on tropical storms for summertime rainfall, and this year’s storms have already had a positive impact on the drought situation. Tropical Storm Alberto, which hit South Texas last month after landfall in Mexico, helped reduce the drought-affected areas from 30% to 25%.
Before Alberto, the state had experienced an unusually wet start to the year, which improved the overall drought outlook. Although last year was the hottest in Texas’s history, the current drought conditions are not as severe as those in 2011 when almost the entire state was in drought.
Today, the drought is concentrated in West and South Central Texas, but the situation is not as extreme as it was in 2011. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that there has been some improvement, but the need for rainfall in certain regions remains critical.
