Despite recent rainfall, drought conditions in the Austin area won’t be changing any time soon.
A total of 2.37 inches of rainfall have been recorded in Austin so far this month, which is a jump from what’s normal during the first 13 days of April. The area usually sees just 0.92 inches of rainfall by this time, National Weather Service data shows. While rain is in the forecast this week, it likely won’t be significant, said Mack Morris, a National Weather Service Meteorologist.
“This rain probably won’t put much of a dent in the drought,” he said. “We basically need another year’s worth of additional rain to completely break out of the drought. It would take significant rainfall.”
The most recent map released by the U.S Drought Monitor shows the majority of Travis County is in an extreme drought and some western parts are in the lesser severe drought. Part of the problem is that the area has been stuck in a La Niña pattern since the fall.
A La Niña pattern happens when the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator cools, which can lead to warmer and drier conditions across the southern U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says.
Austin is down about 2-4 inches of rainfall in the last three months in an area that has seen a lack of rainfall over the last five years, Morris said.
“The constant La Niñas have been a problem,” Morris explained.
But relief from the La Niña is finally on its way — a neutral weather pattern is expected to kick in within the next few weeks, Morris said. The neutral pattern is expected to last through the summer months before an El Niño pattern moves into the area, making conditions cooler and wetter.
“We’ll take it,” Morris said. “Literally anything is better for this area than a La Niña.”
A steadier steam of rain would help the area’s drought conditions, and lucky for us, Austin should get some rain this week.
Rain is possible on Wednesday, with showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. More storms are expected on Saturday and Morris said a decent amount of rainfall is possible.
