Published: March 04, 2007 12:28 am      

No drought, but no doubt getting drier

GREENVILLE — While rainfall totals are a lot better in Hunt County than they were one year ago, there is little doubt more precipitation is needed.

A hard freeze was predicted locally this morning, a reminder that the end of winter is still more than two weeks away. The sharp cold snap also helped dry out the vegetation which had begun to bloom following heavy rains in late December and through most of January.

In fact, the 6.15 inches of rain recorded at Majors Field Municipal Airport in Greenville during January was sixth highest rainfall total for the month.

But then someone turned off the tap. A total of just over six-tenths of an inch of rain was recorded at the airport last month. While certainly not the driest February on record, it compares to the almost five inches of rain which fell on Greenville during the same month in 2006.

While the month of March is just beginning, no rain is in the forecast for the next few days.

There is no current drought, as soil in the entire north Texas region remains well above drought levels, according to data from the National Weather Service. However, levels at most of the area’s lakes and reservoirs remain well below normal.

Lake Tawakoni was listed at 429.30 feet Saturday, about eight feet below the spillway.

The National Weather Service issued an advisory late last week, indicating the possibility of La Nina conditions forming this spring, which is expected to lead to a drier than normal weather pattern between April and June.

Already, the Texas Forest Service has issued several fire weather alerts and red flag warnings for portions of the state, including Hunt County. The agency listed the county under moderate to high levels of fire danger as of Saturday.