Kinsa Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 We've had one heckuva time here in south central Texas this weekend. Thought y'all might want to see pictures of what happened to an RV park up in Blanco. http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/05/24/images--blanco-rv-park-damage.html Stephen & Karen and our six boys, ages 21, 21, 19, 17, 14, & 11 Stephen - Military retiree (as of summer 2012) & current DOI employee (Big Bend National Park) Karen - Homeschooling stay-at-home mom & veteran San Antonio, Texas Fulltimed May 2013 - July 2014 (yes, all eight of us!) Open Range "Rolling Thunder" (H396RGR - fifth wheel toy hauler bunkhouse) - SOLD Ford F-350 diesel dually - for the camper Ford E-350 fifteen passenger van - for the crew Our unfinished travel blog: http://coach-and-six.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 It has been a tough run of weather this spring for Texas but I think that it is safe to say that the drought is over! We live near Van, TX and only 6 miles from the path of the tornado that was so destructive there so am very sympathetic to the folks there. We lost two very dear friends in Van and have spent a lot of time in the recovery effort. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 but I think that it is safe to say that the drought is over! I'm not sure about that. The major reservoirs and aquifers which supply water to the IH35 corridor of Austin and San Antonio are still very low from years of drought. Lake Travis rose 7' in 12 hours, but is still over 32' low. http://www.golaketravis.com/waterlevel/ There are many lake front homes on Lake Buchanan which haven't seen the lake in five years. Lake Buchanan is still only 40% full. http://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/buchanan Recent rains have certainly been helpful. Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa_desert_rat Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 It has been a tough run of weather this spring for Texas but I think that it is safe to say that the drought is over! We live near Van, TX and only 6 miles from the path of the tornado that was so destructive there so am very sympathetic to the folks there. We lost two very dear friends in Van and have spent a lot of time in the recovery effort. Rain and wind are no fun but when you actually lose people to nasty weather that is tragic. I hope the drought is over for you guys (and everyone else, too). But I have a nasty suspicion that what we're seeing over the past few years is the new normal. Our sympathies, Kirk. WDR 1993 Foretravel U225 with Pacbrake and 5.9 Cummins with Banks 1999 Jeep Wrangler, 4" lift and 33" tires Raspberry Pi Coach Computer Ham Radio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm not sure about that. Check the current weather forecast and the long term one as well. It does take more than an end to a drought for all effects of it to be removed, just as the storm being over is only the first step in repairing its destruction. I suspect that few people in most parts of Texas will be praying for more rain in the next few days. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinsa Posted May 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 Rain and wind are no fun but when you actually lose people to nasty weather that is tragic. Yes, it is so sad when people lose their lives. Locally, a beautiful young lady died when her car was swept away as she was on her way home from her senior prom: http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/05/24/devine-teen-swept-away-in-car-by-floodwater.html Stephen & Karen and our six boys, ages 21, 21, 19, 17, 14, & 11 Stephen - Military retiree (as of summer 2012) & current DOI employee (Big Bend National Park) Karen - Homeschooling stay-at-home mom & veteran San Antonio, Texas Fulltimed May 2013 - July 2014 (yes, all eight of us!) Open Range "Rolling Thunder" (H396RGR - fifth wheel toy hauler bunkhouse) - SOLD Ford F-350 diesel dually - for the camper Ford E-350 fifteen passenger van - for the crew Our unfinished travel blog: http://coach-and-six.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 Check the current weather forecast and the long term one as well. It does take more than an end to a drought for all effects of it to be removed, just as the storm being over is only the first step in repairing its destruction. I suspect that few people in most parts of Texas will be praying for more rain in the next few days. I was not commenting on the destruction repair or what people might be praying for. I was simply addressing the drought, and whether it is over or not. Most folks along the Lower Colorado River Authority have been in one stage or another of water restrictions for at least three years. It'll take more than a couple of months of rains to end the drought. I'm hoping the long term predictions are accurate, but you know how predictions go. Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim & Alice Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 ... I suspect that few people in most parts of Texas will be praying for more rain in the next few days. That's what we are hearing from relatives down in Texas, Kirk. Also, good show on helping out in Van. Condolences for your friends. HB 2007 Dolphin Safe-T-Plus Steering Bar Our Blog: Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Bigfoot Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I just wish we could bank some of this rain for July and August . I'm sure we will be wishing for some in those months. As for the drought being over I would say that both of you are right. If you live east of or in the Brazos water shed then yes the drought is thought to be broken . But over in the Colorado river basin they are still in need of rain ,most of those lakes are still well below normal with some that supply the Midland Odessa area in the 4 to 16 % full range. Plus as mentioned Buchanan is still 28 feet low. Used to be a weather man on channel 5 ( NBC)that would say the only way to end a drought is with a flood. Kirk my sympathy for your loss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzwiss Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 It just goes to show you..........be careful what you pray for. 2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 27FB 2011 Ford F350 CC SRW "Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for." Will Rogers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooneDocks Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm not sure about that. The major reservoirs and aquifers which supply water to the IH35 corridor of Austin and San Antonio are still very low from years of drought. Lake Travis rose 7' in 12 hours, but is still over 32' low. http://www.golaketravis.com/waterlevel/ There are many lake front homes on Lake Buchanan which haven't seen the lake in five years. Lake Buchanan is still only 40% full. http://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/buchanan Recent rains have certainly been helpful. Interesting info. Given all the rain I have heard about, I would have guessed Texas reservoirs were all full. There is obviously still a ways to go. Presently MotorHomeLessFollow Our Full-Time Travels Through Our Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkhorse Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 Unfortunately with flooding the super saturation of the ground makes a lot of that water flow on downstream. You get a boost from what could be absorbed but its a relatively small amount on the whole compared to what fell. If you could direct most of it straight to lakes, reservoirs and aqua-firs then ending a drought may be possible however most is wasted and flows on through. 2006 Peterbilt 387 -2013 Dutchmen Voltage 3950 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N TX Dave Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 In North Texas the 5 year drought is over, almost all our lakes are at flood stage, almost all boat launches and parks and many campgrounds are closed for the holiday weekend. I live on Lake Lewisville and it is 10.94 foot above conversation pool (flood) and that is the same for most of the lakes in North Texas, there are only 3 of 20 something lakes in North Texas, that are not flooding, but they are within a foot of being full. The frontage road on I-35 by my house is closed because of water and that is only the third time since '82 it has been. They have declared the drought is officially over in this part of the state, on the news last night they did a time lapse of the drought map and the dark red faded to nothing. We have not had any 90 degree temps here in DFW yet this year and the normal average high for May is 84 and June average is 92. Every day in May has had a record high of at least 90 up to 107. So this year has been cool and wet here in North Texas. Dave Watkins Highland Village, TX 2014 F-350 Dually Open Range 349RLR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 We are in Boerne and decided to stay an extra day and hope Tuesday will be a better travel day to get to Mineral Wells area. Just hope every onestays safe. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 Interesting info. Given all the rain I have heard about, I would have guessed Texas reservoirs were all full. There is obviously still a ways to go. It is pretty much true that those in the eastern half or so of the state are now full, but rain began here well before it did in the west and we also had a lot of smaller, slower rains first and then came the rapid, high volume storms that filled our lakes so we are definitely well ahead of the western part.. Unfortunately, the only way to fill lakes quickly is with flooding rains upstream above the problem lakes and that is now happening but slower rains of longer duration usually do more for the aquifer where wells are the main supply. The remark about the drought being over was intended to have been tongue in cheek.... Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mptjelgin Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 There are formal definitions for different states of "drought" and they go far beyond reservoirs being full or not, and how much rain has fallen over a short term. I work in a field where we need to be able to quantify drought in a scientific manner, and we utilize the US Drought Monitor site, which uses a composite of several indices to define degree of drought. Here is the Texas Drought Map from one year ago. Most of the state was in some degree of drought, with the orange, red, and burgundy being "severe", "extreme", and "exceptional" respectively. You can see that the drought had begun to ease by the end of last year: And by last week (prior to the past few day's heavy rains) most of Texas was already out of the drought. The area west of Central Texas is the watershed for both Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis, and that area was still in moderate to severe drought. I suspect this week's update will erase much of that as well. For comparison, here is the current California map: If only some of that Texas rain would head west! Mark & Teri 2021 Grand Designs Imagine 2500RL, 2019 Ford F-350 Mark & Teri's Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photoadjuster Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 http://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/statewide Shows current and historical water levels in all lakes in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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