By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Texans may need to keep the rain boots handy heading into winter and spring.
Long-term forecasts are projecting a wet end of the year and a similar start to 2019, according to State Climatologist Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon.
Texas experienced one of the hottest and driest summers on record, but strengthening El Niño weather patterns are calling for above-average rainfall, particularly in the southern parts of Texas.
“September is already off to a good start,” Nielson-Gammon said in an interview with AgriLife Today. “It’s not good for cotton producers, but much of the state has received moisture in the last few weeks.”
Areas between Del Rio and San Antonio received 5-15 inches of rain in just one week, while many parts of Central Texas picked up 2 inches or more. More precipitation is expected to follow, he said.
“It looks like wet tropical patterns will contribute more moisture,” Nielson-Gammon said. “It also looks like things may be drying out a little following the rains, but Texas can expect more consistent rain into the fall, winter and spring as the El Niño patterns strengthen.”
Cooler temperatures are typically associated with precipitation, but Nielson-Gammon said it will be a toss-up this year.
“At this point, it looks like equal chances of above- and below-average temperatures,” he said.
It’s been a rough 2018 so far for Texans. Temperatures from May to August were the third hottest on record, Nielson-Gammon said. Precipitation levels were more than 2.5 inches below the state average, making it the 29th driest year on record.