Concho Valley “abnormally dry” in latest drought map

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Despite recent rainfalls, the Texas Water Development Board still considers the Concho Valley abnormally dry. There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, however.

The latest “Water Weekly” water monitoring chart issued by the Texas Water Development Board deemed the majority of counties in the Concho Valley to be “abnormally dry,” the first level of the board’s drought intensity scale. While no region in Texas reached “exceptional drought,” the most severe category, yet, multiple areas are currently in the second-highest intensity of “extreme drought.”

Image courtesy of the Texas Water Development Board.
Image courtesy of the Texas Water Development Board.

Though the chart states that the Concho Valley is experiencing a dry spell, the National Weather Service of San Angelo and Abilene has a more optimistic outlook on drought conditions.

“We have seen drought conditions improve quite a bit across parts of the area,” NWS forecaster Stephen Kearney said. “Across parts of the Big Country, we’re pretty much out of drought conditions, and then down here, we’re just in the abnormally dry period, which is actually one of the lower categories of drought.”

Furthermore, April showers may actually bring May flowers to the region — with the Concho Valley finally seeing signs of spring’s traditionally stormy weather, improved drought conditions may be on the horizon.

“With us heading now into spring, we’re seeing chances for severe weather over the next week, and we’re going to continue to see that here over the next month or so,” Kearney said. “We’re going to be seeing drought conditions improve for most areas as long as we can get some beneficial rains out of these thunderstorms.”

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