By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff
November 21, 2006 12:50 am
—
While the public’s attention begins to focus more on freezing temperatures during the months ahead, weather experts still caution that the severe drought which was present over the summer has not gone anywhere.
Despite some heavy rains during October and so far this month, many cities across north Texas are still well behind in overall rainfall and the area’s reservoirs remain well below normal.
The most recent drought information statement, released late last week by the National Weather Service, shows how far Hunt County and north Texas have to go before the drought can truly be declared over.
Most of the county is still listed under a reading of 200-300 under the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which indicates the soil is near saturation. Some locations, however, still had readings approaching 500 under the index, which would be closing in mild drought conditions, as of Monday evening.
Other drought tables give varying readings for the county, as they measure differing impacts due to the drought. The United States Drought Monitor still listed most of Hunt County under a severe drought as of Nov. 14, with the southwest corner remaining under an extreme drought.
The Palmer Drought Severity Index listed Hunt County and much of north Texas under mild drought conditions as of its most recent report on Nov. 11.
While the soil readings show substantial moisture, many of the drought indicators still show severe to extreme drought conditions due to the level of the reservoirs in north Texas.
Lake Tawakoni still has not recovered from the lack of rainfall over the past two summers.
As of Saturday morning, Tawakoni’s level had fallen to 425.7 feet, down 11.8 feet. The City of Greenville would no longer be able to obtain water from Lake Tawakoni to refill the municipal reservoir system, should the level fall below 425 feet. The city recently purchased new pumps which will help make sure water can be obtained if the level continues to fall.
Lakes Lavon and Jim Chapman are in far worse shape. Lavon was down more than 16 feet and Jim Chapman had dropped more than 17 feet as of Monday.
This week’s weather forecast, while a boon for travelers and early Friday morning shoppers, is anything but comforting in terms of the drought. Sunny skies and warming temperatures are expected during the next several days, with no rain in sight.
The long term outlook from the National Weather Service is still calling for wetter than normal conditions this winter and into spring, although meteorologists caution it would take several months of above normal rainfall to begin to eliminate the current deficits on area lakes.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.