By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Editor
The majority of Texas received some much needed rainfall over the past seven days thanks to Tropical Storm Cindy and other rainfall events.
Most of the state received at least half an inch of rain, while areas in the southeast, north central and High Plains areas collected more than two inches of rain, according to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).
That rainfall will likely reduce drought conditions across Texas. This week’s drought report, which does not include rainfall received over the weekend, puts five percent of the state under moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions.
Much of the Panhandle is abnormally dry, with the exceptions of Dallam, Hartley, Sherman, Hansford, Moore and parts of Oldham, Deaf Smith and Carson counties.
Moderate drought was recorded in Wheeler, Childress, Hardeman, Cottle, Foard, Motley, Collingsworth, Dickens, King, Hockley and Lubbock counties.
Along the Red River, Montague, Cooke, Wise and parts of Jack and Collin counties are abnormally dry. A few miles east, Fannin County is suffering from moderate drought.
In West Texas, the eastern parts of Pecos and Reeves counties are abnormally dry as are neighboring Crane, Upton, Sterling, Reagan counties and parts of Crockett, Schleicher and Sutton counties. Irion, Tom Green and parts of Coke and Runnels counties are all abnormally dry.
TWDB predicts the drought may ease in this region thanks to rainfall over the weekend.
In far west Texas, parts of Hudspeth and Presidio counties are abnormally dry.
Williamson, Bell and parts of Coryell County in Central Texas are abnormally dry with some farmers reporting decent rainfall over the weekend. Others received less than half an inch.
Further south, Mason, Llano, Blanco, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, Fayette, Washington, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Comal, Bexar, Bandera, Kendall, Maverick and parts of Duvall, McMullen and Atascosa counties are all abnormally dry. Live Oak and Jim Wells counties are under moderate drought.
In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the southern part of Hidalgo County is experiencing moderate drought, along with almost all of Cameron County.
About five percent of the state is under drought conditions. That’s up three percent compared to a week ago.