Brief shower deposits 0.23 inches of rain

By neil sturdevant | on August 26, 2023

A brief but steady rain fell in Uvalde for about 20 minutes on the afternoon of Aug. 23, depositing 0.23 inches of precipitation amidst severe drought conditions.

When added to the hearty rainfall the previous day, the two-day total is 1.33 inches. Temperatures dropped, with highs of 89 and 87 degrees, respectively.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that drought conditions for central Uvalde worsened from moderate to severe last week. Uvalde has been classified as in drought conditions for 85 weeks, since Jan. 4, 2022.

In the county, last month was classified as the 51st driest July on record in the past 129 years, down by 1.06 inches from average rainfall.

This year hovers around the middle, classified as the 54th driest for the county in the same span, based on rainfall from January through July.

Per the National Integrated Drought Information System, there are an estimated 15,731 cattle in drought conditions in the county, and 4,877 sheep; about 15,165 acres of corn, 10,821 acres of cotton and 8,828 acres of wheat crops are in drought conditions.

The U.S. Geological Survey report on real time streamflow conditions indicates 51 percent of streamflow sites are below normal in Texas. For Uvalde County the Nueces River at Laguna is classified as normal.

Classed as below normal are the Sabinal River at Sabinal and the Dry Frio near Reagan Wells.

The Frio River at Concan, Nueces River at Uvalde and Seco Creek near Utopia are all classified as much below normal.

The U.S. National Weather Service forecasts rain chances persisting through Tuesday. Hundred-degree temperatures were predicted to return today, then tomorrow, a high near 101 and a west wind at 5 to 10 mph moving to a south wind by the afternoon.

The year-to-date rainfall total is 13.11 inches. While still 6.69 inches below the 119-year average of 19.80 inches, it is better than four out of five of the most recent years.

This time last year, there had been 10.95 inches of rain. In 2021, around this date there had been 18.18 inches; in 2020, 10.15 inches; and in 2019, 12.95 inches.

As of Aug. 25, the J-27 index well read 841 feet above mean sea level, with a 10-day average of 840.9.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority and the city of Uvalde both declared Stage 4 water restrictions about two weeks ago. In Stage 4, the EAA requires a 35 percent reduction in pumping by groundwater permit holders, and the city increasing the drought surcharge for heavy monthly water users, staggered by tiers of 20,000 gallons and 50,000 gallons and above, respectively.

Proximate areas

Craig Garnett on South Getty Street in Uvalde reported 0.40 inches of rain on Aug. 23; and John Hogan on North Park Street reported 0.30 inches.

John Gaitan of La Pryor reported a trace of rain.

In Sabinal, Enrique Garcia reported 0.35 inches at the tire shop near the center of town and 0.60 inches at his home east of town.

J. Hardie, 4.5 miles northeast of Knippa, reported 0.10 inches of rain.

Terry Carson in central Concan reported scattered showers with no measurable rain; Nancy Feely at River Rim Resort, about five miles outside of Concan, reported no rain, as did Bubba Hickman in Camp Wood.

Diane Causey, north of Utopia reported about 0.20 inches of rain.

Russel Ellinger’s weather station in Montell recorded 0.24 inches of rain.

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