Heavy Rains Wash Away Worst of Years-Old Texas Drought

May 18, 2015

Recent heavy rains have helped Texas emerge from the worst of the years-long drought.

The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated Texas, for the first time since mid-2012, is no longer in the “exceptional drought” category. That’s the most dire of five drought designations on the weekly map by federal agencies.

The drought has ravaged parts of Texas since 2011. Sections of the state were still listed on May 14 as abnormally dry or in moderate, severe or extreme drought.

But mid-May rains drenched the Houston area with more than 10 inches of rain and Corsicana was doused with 11 inches of rain.

Drought-stricken Wichita Falls reports lakes that help supply the city’s water continue to rise due to recent storms. Combined levels for Lake Arrowhead and Lake Kickapoo topped 50 percent on May 12.

Topics Texas

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