Heavy rain event coming for drought-stricken regions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas

[phantom power]

A strong low pressure system is expected to track across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles this weekend, bringing the heaviest rains of the year to drought-stricken portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, including Abilene. Rainfall in this region has been 13 - 20 inches below normal for the year; Lubbock, Texas has had just 3 inches of rain this year, compared to a normal of 16 inches. Rainfall amount of 1 - 4 inches will be common in the region over the weekend, and may be able to reduce drought conditions from the highest level (exceptional) to the second highest level (extreme.)

However, the heaviest rains will stay confined to the western half of Texas, and Texas's major cities such as Houston will see very little rain over the weekend. As of yesterday, Houston had gone 253 consecutive days without a one-inch rainstorm, a new record. The longest previous such streak was 192 days, set in 1917 - 1918. The last one inch rainstorm in the city was January 24, 2011. Remarkably, the local National Weather Service office has not issued any flood products in over a year.


Figure 2. The amount of rain needed to break the Texas drought is in excess of 15 inches (purple colors) over most of the state. This year's drought is officially Texas' worst one-year drought on record. Image credit: NOAA/NWS.

[WhiteTara]

1. Even during the dust bowl?

That is really saying something.

[nichomachus]

2. A "rain event?" Are they selling tickets?

[MuseRider]

4. If I thought selling tickets

would help I would sell them, in fact I know many who would be buying. In my little area of Kansas we are barely considered in a drought but my farm has not gotten a significant amount of rain more than twice (1 inch) since April. The cracks are 2 inches wide in my pastures and so deep I can't touch the bottom with my fingers. Added to the 30+ days of temps 100-114 this summer and although not as bad not nearly as bad, as Texas and other places I would do just about anything to get it to rain for more than a short sprinkle. Call it whatever you like, at this point in time rain IS an event.

[nichomachus]

8. Sorry, it was my innder editor coming through

Why not just say "heavy rain is coming?" "rain event" is meteorologist jargon we pick up from listening to them on the teevee.

Sorry for your drought. That's gotta be tough. Unfortunately, I fear things are going to get worse before they get better.

[MuseRider]

14. It's OK.

I wasn't upset just commenting. All is well, dry but well :hi:

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Mr. Carlin? Is that you?

[DocMac]

3. God told me he was on vacation.

But some people measure seconds as days. I wouldn't stop praying if I were them because

that ground is gonna suck up moisture like never seen. Even the worms will get theirs first.

[KatyaR]

6. Let it come--I'll be doing a happy dance.

:bounce:
When we had the first rain this summer that we'd had in months, I went outside and danced in it. It was totally overcast, the temp had dropped 20+ degrees, and it was amazing. My coworkers thought I was nuts, but I didn't care. It didn't last long and was hot again when I left work a couple of hours later.

Believe me, we are in for big trouble if we don't get some rain. The farmers are hurting badly, and they lost a lot of money this summer. If we don't have rain, food prices will go through the roof.

[XemaSab]

7. Here's hoping that the dry soil

doesn't reject the water. :(

(XemaSab: bringing you unrelenting optimism since 2004.)

[LiberalFighter]

9. Too much rain at the wrong time and wrong place

can also be devastating.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Since Perry is governor it is all his fault for the drought.

[Blacksheep214]

11. Rain Event??!!

You have got to be shitting me! That sucks as bad as "storm watch"!

It's going to rain and the next "news event" will be covering the resulting flash floods!

I live in So. Cal. and this is how it goes. Oh yeah! The burn areas are especially susceptible.

"Breaking News" to be sure.

[skippercollector]

12. ohio

I wish I could send you some of the rain that southern Ohio has had. This year is the second-wettest on record, and since there are still almost three months left in the year, it will be broken big time.

[XemaSab]

13. "Rain event" is typical jargon

"Storm event" is even worse.

Trust me; this is how people talk in the natural resources. :banghead:

[Javaman]

15. I got an 1 1/2 at my house in Austin. :)

I really loved the much needed rain. When you are without it for so long, it's odd to see and feel it again. Just experiencing total cloud cover is a wonderful sight.

But sadly, while the rain was indeed welcomed, we are still a very far cry from being out of the woods regarding the drought.

We need many more of these "Rain events" to put a dent in it.

[madokie]

16. We were sure looking forward to a deluge but it never came

we live in the northeastern part of Oklahoma and this morning we finally got rain, a quarter inch was all though, barely settled the dust. Out west of okcity they got some good rain though and they really needed it, way more than we do here in Green Country.