Drought getting worse in the Houston area

Rain continues to elude southeast Texas

HOUSTON – The trend continues. And it's not a good trend. The Texas drought is worsening, and Houston is right in the thick of it. 

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, issued Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, shows that 88 percent of the state is in at least a moderate drought, with 30 percent under extreme or exceptional drought.

In the southeast part of the state, the area west of Harris County is the driest.

In the past seven months we've gotten only about half of our normal rainfall. That, combined with drier than normal outlook for rain through June, is very bad news for us. To put things into perspective, for the September-to-March time period that led up to our worst drought on record in the state of Texas -- in 2011 -- we actually got more rain then than we got in that same time range ending March, 2013.

The city of Houston is not preparing for water restrictions right now. Reservoir levels are high enough that the water supply is adequate for the time being.  However, with water usage well above average and rain totals continuing to lag, something will have to give as we head into summer. And, if Mother Nature doesn't bend, we will have to.


About the Author:

Meteorologist, runner, triathlete and proud Houstonian.